OUR TURN: Help an animal find a home at Marble Falls shelter
Marble Falls residents have a wonderful opportunity to save the life of a dog or a cat in need of a good home, and they don’t even have to go far.
In fact, all they have to do is visit the Marble Falls Animal Control Center at 100 Ave. L.
The city’s animal control facility falls under the jurisdiction of the Police Department.
Police Capt. Robert Sooter said the city’s only animal shelter holds regular adoptions 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Sadly, many residents aren’t aware of the service.
Hopefully that will change.
"Sometimes we’ll get calls from people asking us where they can go to adopt an animal, and they’re not even aware that we have an adoption facility right here," Sooter told The Daily Tribune last week.
Most of the animals picked up by the city are adoptable. Most were either abandoned by former owners or ran away from their homes.
They arrive at the shelter without collars or identification. The city does its best to find them a home.
The city is working with area rescue agencies to have some animals listed on the popular pet search engine www.petfinder.com.
A pet of the week also is featured on the city’s Web site.
The fees and conditions for adopting an animal are reasonable.
Families who wish to bring an animal home need to pay a $10 fee and purchase a rabies shot for the animal from a local veterinarian.
A receipt needs to be brought to the shelter as proof the shot is paid for before the adoptive family can leave with the animal. Naturally, the animal is then brought to the vet for the vaccination.
After getting home with their new Fido or Fluffy, owners are required to purchase an identification tag, as per city ordinance.
This keeps them from being returned to the shelter and left there without anyone to claim them.
For more information about adopting an animal, or to learn which animals are available for adoption, call the Police Department at (830) 693-3611.
In addition to adopting an animal, responsible owners can help curb the explosion of strays and unwanted animals by spaying and neutering their pets.
Animals make great friends and good companions, but responsible pet owners realize this is not a relationship that should be entered lightly.
The animals depend on their owners for quality care, and they deserve no less.
A good place to find an animal that needs a home starts at the Marble Falls Animal Control Center.
The River Cities Daily Tribune editorial board includes Dan Alvey, Amber Alvey Weems, Thomas Edwards, Chris Porter and Daniel Clifton.