Beaumont voters to decide on $7M animal shelter in November bond election

BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont voters will soon decide whether to fund a new $7 million animal shelter as part of Proposition B in the city’s upcoming bond election on Nov. 4.

Proposition B also includes upgrades to Beaumont’s police headquarters , but city leaders and animal advocates say the shelter replacement is especially urgent. The current Beaumont Animal Care facility was built in the 1980s and no longer meets the needs of staff, volunteers or the animals.

“Each of our kennels are three to four dogs or three to four cats per kennel,” said Viviana Lopez with the shelter. She added that the facility is often over its maximum capacity of 136 animals, forcing staff and volunteers to share cramped office space in the break room.

Much of the facility is open-air, with no heating or co