BELTON, Texas — The Bell County Commissioners Court unanimously approved funding for a new Outreach Rescue Coordinator position at the Bell County animal shelter, marking what advocates call the first step toward addressing a crisis of high euthanasia rates and staffing shortages at the shelter .

The decision comes after months of heated public debate and growing criticism of the shelter's operations, which has led to harassment of animal control employees and tensions between local rescue organizations and county officials.

"I'm not proud of our euthanasia rate," Bell County Sheriff Bill Cooke said.

Cooke requested the outreach coordinator position to help reduce euthanasia rates by connecting shelter animals with adoptive families and rescue organizations-- a position advocates have

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