To achieve a No Kill status, a shelter must have a 90% save rate through a rolling 12-month period.
CASTROVILLE, Texas — The City of Castroville Animal Services has marked a major milestone, achieving the status as a No Kill facility.
Josh Davidson, City of Castroville Code Compliance and Animal Control officer, says achieving their No Kill status has been a collaboration between several organizations and efforts by the community.
“It’s a goal, It’s what we all strive for. We want to try to get as many of these animals out as we can,” said Davidson.
Davidson says when he and his co-worker took over the animal shelter, they were far away from achieving a No Kill status.
“The numbers were actually flipped, so there was more euthanasia’s happening here, than live outcomes,” said Davidson.
However in 2024, things changed thanks in part to a $19,000 grant from the nonprofit, Best Friends Animal Society. CAS used the funds to start a Trap, neuter, and return program for feral cats.
Currently the shelter does not accept cats.
“They get a little ear notch to show that they’ve been through the program, so we don’t have to touch that cat anymore, and that get that cat gets to live out its life doing what cats do, acting as good pets control for the community,” said Davidson.
In collaboration with other organizations, the city also host mobile clinics, offering vaccines and low cost spay and neutering services for Medina County residents.
“It costs us about $2500 to hold that event, but that pretty much cuts the the spay neuter costs in half, to the people that need it,” said Davidson.
Davidson says this program is a way to help the community with low cost vet services, and control the pet population.
To achieve a No Kill status, a shelter must have at least a 90% save rate through a 12 month rolling period.
The shelter also has success stories like Destiny’s, who was found in June and has been nursed back to health, she will be going to a foster soon with the intent to adopt.
“Our main goal here is to reunite with the owners. If we can’t do that, then our only options at that point are to either adopt, or try to get them transferred to a rescue,” said Davidson.
Davidson says there is still work that needs to be done, and is asking the community for donations to keep their programs running.
If you would like to help, you can donate by visiting their website.
Davidson says you can also go in to the Castroville City Hall and make a donation there.