It’s time to make the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (BARC) a first-class city service, City Controller Annise Parker announced.

“The unsettling news of BARC Director Kent Robertson’s resignation set off a tidal wave of even more unsettling news about a grossly underfunded operation that continues to euthanize more than 20,000 animals a year while failing to meet its stated mission of encouraging ‘spaying/neutering to control the unwanted animal population’,” Parker said. “And this week we learned about the tragic death of eight animals left in an un-airconditioned BARC truck.”

After a deluge of complaints, Mayor White and City Council seem committed to finally turning BARC around. In calling for public hearings and stakeholder meetings, the mayor stressed that all options are on the table. Council is also considering a mandatory spay and neuter ordinance, which would exempt breeders.

The controller encourages the Mayor to have BARC assessed by a respected outside consultant, such as Nathan Winograd, father of the no-kill movement; conduct a national search for a new BARC director; and “rethink our entire animal control process.”

“Are we best positioned to be an adoption facility, making a major investment of taxpayer dollars, or should we contract adoptions to one of the many non-profits that specialize in adoptions?,” she asked.

The BARC crisis and public outcry have been building for years. “For too long, the city treated BARC like an afterthought,” Parker said. As an at-large council member, Paker requested that the National Animal Control Association (NACA) assess BARC. Among its 1999 major findings: understaffing and serious underfunding compared to other cities. 

“Fortunately,” she said, “Mayor White boosted BARC funding somewhat and appointed an active advisory committee, on which I serve.”

The controller urges city officials to reexamine those committee reports, which included numerous recommendations and best practices.

Resigning after only two years, Kent Robertson cited personal reasons for stepping down. Under his leadership, BARC began to resemble a 21st century city animal services division. He expanded adoptions, upgraded BARC facilities, generated positive publicity and worked with Friends of BARC (www.friendsofbarc.org/). 

Robertson also made a public commitment to moving Houston toward a reasonable no-kill policy – under the best circumstances, even no-kill shelters sometimes euthanize sick or feral animals. Many cities and shelters across the country are moving toward no-kill and low-cost spay and neuter as humane solutions to the overwhelming dog and cat population.

Houston has been blessed with tireless animal advocates like Sean Hawkins of Saving Animals Across Borders (formerly of SNAP), who helped persuade PetSmart to open five Fix Houston low-cost spay and neuter/vaccination clinics (www.savinganimals.org/Fix%20Houston.page). The first one has opened at 17575 Katy Freeway (281-578-0252).

Despite its problems, BARC offers many great animals for adoption for only $55. You can search online through the BARC website or throughwww.petfinder.com by typing in your ZIP code. The SPCA also offers a searchable database on its website. The SPCA handles all animal cruelty investigations for the city and county.

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