Temple Animal Shelter & Pet Adoption Center

I didn't adopt an animal from this shelter, so I can't say anything about that. But, I think two of the ladies who work in the front of the shelter deserve a GLOWING review. Late one night, I stopped on the side of the road outside of town and a tiny kitten came crawling up to me mewing frantically. There was nothing around, no Mama cat, no houses, no barns, nothing. The kitten had been dumped. I scooped him up and took him home. I had no money for an expensive vet trip, and the kitten was about 4 weeks old. So the next morning I took him to the shelter, just to ask questions and see what they advised. The ladies (who were quick to tell me that they weren't vets) said to give him some pedialyte and kitten milk (which I had already bought). The kitten was lethargic and flea-infested and had a double eye infection. ...Upon hearing that I was not leaving the animal with them for euthanizing, they brought out a CapStar pill to kill all his fleas, treated his eyes for infection and his ears for mites. They did all of this FOR FREE, and not because I asked. When I left, none of us were sure the poor tiny thing would survive. But thanks to their help and round-the-clock kitten milk feedings, he's THRIVING. :) I just can't say how thankful I was to these ladies. They weren't the super friendly, smiling type, but they were helpful and genuinely CARE about animals. What more can you ask for!?!? THANKS!!!

I contacted the Temple TX animal control shelter, following the guidelines on their website, to report a case of animal neglect. The woman who answered the phone acted like I was bothering her by calling. She told me there was nothing they could do if the dog was being provided with "food, water, and shelter", after I had just explained to her, TWICE, that it was not being provided with water (during the record heat wave in Central TX, where temps were consistently above 100 degrees) nor shelter. I told her it was a puppy being kept outside day and night, and I have witnessed multiple occasions where it has been without water when the temps were over 100 degrees. I have witnessed the puppy licking at an empty bowl, multiple times. The woman did not appear to listen to anything I was saying, and continued treating me like I was the one doing wrong. I have never before called animal control in my life. I even waited longer than I felt comfortable with to make sure this qualified as animal neglect. I do understand that not everyone will keep their animals inside and treat them as part of the family, but PER LAW you are supposed to have water readily available to them AT ALL TIMES. Especially if it is a puppy left outside in extreme heat. I was fully prepared to help in any way I could, IF it came to that, to ensure this puppy found a good home. I was hoping that animal control (as stated on their website) would come out and educate the owners about animal care. This puppy has a tiny bowl that is rarely filled with water, and since it is a puppy, it knocks over the small bowl or carries it off the rest of the time. It has a collar around its neck, and considering the almost complete lack of attention they are giving the animal now, it will probably outgrow the collar and they will have no idea. I do not believe that the animal shelter even came out to investigate, although the woman grudgingly told me at the end of my wasted phone call that they would. Nothing has changed. Last night, we had a severe thunderstorm in Temple, large tree branches were blown over, winds over 60mph, large objects flying through the air, and the puppy was Left Outside(!!), whimpering and crying at their back door. And yes, they were home. On the days when they leave the puppy out in 100+ degree weather, they Do Not go check on the dog when they come home. They do not go to ensure it has water. They do not have a dog house, which is also supposed to be breaking the law (not providing proper shelter for an outside dog). It is so disheartening when you decide to do something to help, as we're always told we should do, and to have it thrown back in your face by the very people who are supposed to help the animals. I have a total lack of faith in this shelter. I did make my call to them based on MY beliefs of how dogs should be treated - I did my research on multiple websites, as well as the City of Temple site, and called after I had verified that what they were doing was, by law, considered as animal neglect. Now I have to continue to watch this animal suffer. People in the neighborhood will need to be wary of this dog when it becomes an adult, as the only time it has interaction with people is when they (rarely) come outside to give it food/water and tell it, "NO!". It will not know how to react to humans or other animals, so it will grow up to be dangerous/afraid - IF it survives to become an adult. It also appears to have some type of skin disease... I don't know if it's mange or fleas, but it has bald spots. Again, I would have been willing to use money out of my own pocket to help in any way I could. So, thank you, City of Temple animal shelter, for doing absolutely nothing to help this puppy. Thank you for making me feel like I had no right to call. What chance do animals in need have, if the very organizations put in place to protect them do not do so?