BARC’s Bureau Chief Leaving Houston

August 8th, 2008 

BARC’s Bureau Chief Kent Robertson will clear out his desk at the office of the city animal shelter. He will leave behind many people who depended on him, including the city’s tireless animal welfare volunteers. But the ones who most depended on him will be the tens of thousands of abandoned or mistreated animals that Houston produces in increasing numbers.

Robertson, who was hired in 2006, is returning to Dallas for what he says are personal reasons. Many, though, think he might have been frustrated by the low budget and unyielding irresponsible behavior that have made Houstonians’ treatment of animals a national embarrassment.

Robertson’s goal had been to transform the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care into a no-kill shelter. He realized that the job couldn’t be done overnight. When he first walked through its doors, BARC euthanized at least 80 percent of the animals delivered there. There weren’t enough people to adopt even a fraction of them; the shelter was filthy and inhumane; volunteers routinely had to step over sacks of just-killed animals to feed and water those still alive. When animal control trucks rolled up to the facility, some of the animals would already be dead from being left unattended in the heat.

It’s critical that city officials seize this moment to hire the best replacement for Robertson, who came with superb credentials. He devoted his career to animal welfare, with considerable success improving the municipal animal shelter of Dallas, where he enjoyed strong public and governmental support.  

Now that Houston has an unexpected opening at BARC — and an animal welfare crisis on its hands — the Health and Human Services Department needs to make the search part of the solution.

Robertson’s replacement will also have to lobby fiercely for a statewide ban on unregulated sales of pets. While roadside puppy and kitten peddling is banned in Harris County, perpetrators just park themselves on freeways outside county borders and carry on business as usual.

Bone Up to Responsible Dog Ownership

This September, hundreds of organizations around the country will be hosting free events for pet lovers to celebrate the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Sixth Annual Responsible Dog Ownership Day.

Responsible Dog Ownership Day reinforces the AKC’s belief that canine companionship is a privilege that must be respected and nurtured.

Check out our events calendar for a list of Houston area events!

Popularity: 4%