Fact check: Does the city’s Animal Services prioritize community sheltering over shelter intakes?

By Brandy Ruiz, El Paso Matters Yes.

The city of El Paso’s Animal Services encourages residents to temporarily foster found pets instead of bringing them to the shelter, according to the shelter’s operational manual. The department promotes community-based sheltering for healthy, non-aggressive animals to increase reunification chances and reduce shelter intake, according to its  website. Residents who bring in untipped stray cats are encouraged to return them through the Community Cats program. People are asked to foster found kittens until they’re 8 weeks old. For owner surrenders, Animal Services requires a counseling session and a 30-day rehoming attempt before accepting the animal. The manual also states the shelter “helps members of the public keep their pets.” Sick, injured, or ag