Three animal advocates confronted Liberty County commissioners Tuesday, Oct. 27, demanding answers about the county’s long-awaited animal shelter and questioning why the project has made little apparent progress.
County Judge Jay Knight said after the meeting that county officials want the shelter built, too, but the county must first determine how to pay for a new jail expected to cost more than $110 million.
“We want to build an animal shelter as much as they want one,” Knight said. “But everything hinges on funding for the new jail project. Once we know what that number is, then we can move forward on other projects.”
Amanda Jordan, representing Liberty County Animal Advocates, told commissioners that residents have waited nearly a year for progress on the shelter, which was included in the county’s plans for the 2026 fiscal year.
“The citizens and taxpayers of Liberty County have had enough. Our patience has come to an end,” Jordan said.
She demanded to know whether a location had been selected, what planning had been completed, how much money had been spent and when the county expects to have an operational shelter.
Jordan also said she had emailed county officials at least 10 times without receiving a response.
“We are not asking for another excuse. We are asking for specific answers,” she said.
The county’s jail plans are closely connected to its animal shelter proposal. During discussions earlier this year, County Attorney Matthew Poston explained that the county intended to rely on inmate labor from the new jail to help operate the shelter and reduce staffing costs.
Poston said the county could not afford to independently staff a shelter under the proposed arrangement. He also explained that the existing jail population did not provide inmates eligible for the trustee program being considered.
In July, Poston discussed plans to begin selecting an architect and construction manager for the shelter. The status of those steps was not addressed during Tuesday’s public comments.
Jordan acknowledged that building a shelter requires planning, property decisions, engineering and funding, but said residents deserve to know what has been accomplished.
“There is a difference between taking the necessary time to properly plan a project and simply failing to move it forward,” she said.
She also argued that the county does not need to wait for a shelter to begin addressing stray animals and overpopulation.
Jordan called for county support of affordable spay-and-neuter programs, stronger enforcement of applicable animal-related laws and greater cooperation with local rescue groups and veterinarians.
She questioned the county’s spending priorities, citing what she described as $12,150 spent on courthouse decorations and suggesting that the money could instead have helped fund spay-and-neuter services. The expenditure was not independently verified during the meeting.
Jordan also requested a detailed accounting of money allocated for animal control and the proposed shelter, including how much has been spent, committed or remains available.
For local rescuers, the county’s lack of a shelter has meant taking on significant expenses themselves.
Kim Hilton told commissioners she has spent approximately $47,000 converting her garage into a place to house cats because people continually bring unwanted animals to her home.
“My house is like a cat sanctuary,” Hilton said.
She explained that Liberty County Animal Advocates raises money to help residents have their pets spayed or neutered. Hilton said county funding could help expand those services, including efforts to trap, sterilize and return community cats.
She also urged stronger enforcement against pet owners who allow dogs to roam freely, warning that loose animals can pose a danger to motorists and residents.
Lisa Noble, a longtime resident of the Cleveland and Liberty area, raised concerns about animal diseases.
Noble said rescuers had recently encountered numerous dogs suffering from distemper. She also expressed concern about the potential for rabies cases if animals are not properly vaccinated.
“The huge problem has only gotten worse. It hasn’t gotten any better since y’all approved the shelter,” Noble said.
Jordan said she personally has spent approximately $10,000 fostering stray dogs and argued that volunteers should not be expected to handle the county’s animal control problems on their own.
“The taxpayers should not have to become the animal control system,” she said.
Commissioners thanked the speakers but they are unable to provide a response during the public comment portion of the meeting.
There’s no reason that animal lovers.like myself can’t handle much of staffing on a volunteer basis. Those who have the time should get involved in some way.
And have blanket/bedding drives, as well as food drives. Bake sales, all of it.