Rio Grande City introduced Felice Gonzales as a full-time animal control director and outlined immediate plans to expand the city’s kennels and services.

At the March 19 commission meeting, Gonzales gave a two-week recap of calls handled by the new unit, saying the team responded to “about 15 to 20 calls a day,” including reports of loose livestock, aggressive dogs and dead animal carcasses. He reported that the department has trapped and taken into custody several dogs that had been approaching schoolchildren and that the city is moving forward with upgrades at the kennel facility.

The commission and staff described capital and operational improvements planned for the animal-control site at the 14-acre location by Eisenhower. Gonzales said the city will add 10 kennels to the existing 10, bringing capacity to 20; the upgrade package also includes staff offices, new computers for reports, a visiting-veterinarian area for spay/neuter events, storage and a small adoption/meet-and-greet area. Gonzales told the commission the city had met with three companies to estimate the scope of work and that he will present the estimates when available.

Commissioners and staff pressed on staffing and policy. Gonzales said he currently supervises two non‑commissioned animal-control officers and is the only commissioned investigator assigned to animal cruelty and related criminal investigations. Commissioner Adil Barrera and other commissioners encouraged more hires and recommended a review and update of the city’s animal-control ordinance and operational policies, which commissioners said dated from the early 2000s and need revision. Gonzales and staff said they will meet with the city’s legal and management teams to update procedures and to ensure the unit’s enforcement powers and charging process are clear.

Commissioner Olivares said the city should consider making the animal-control unit an independent department. City staff confirmed the new position is transitioning out of the police department’s prior arrangement toward a standalone division; Gonzales said he will remain commissioned through the police department during the transition but added, “we are in the process of transitioning to our own department hopefully in the future.”

Gonzales also asked the commission to continue support for spay-and-neuter vouchers; commissioners signaled support and discussed approving a next voucher batch at a future meeting. Mayor and commissioners repeatedly framed the changes as an overdue step to improve public safety and animal welfare.

Ending

Commissioners asked staff to return with cost estimates, a staffing plan, and draft policy and ordinance language to formalize the new division’s scope and operations. Gonzales said he and his team will present price estimates for kennel expansion and the proposed clinic area once they receive contractor bids.