The Regional Animal Care Coalition was created on April of 2019 by City and County governments compelled to address the neglect and overpopulation of animals in the Rio Grande Valley. The goals of the coalition are to explore ways to help solve the animal overpopulation that currently exists in local animal shelters within the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy.
After conducting a preliminary assessment of the animal intake numbers and costs in sheltering animals, which forms the basis of the extent of the animal problem to local governments, it is apparent that the focus must be on providing the much needed animal education and awareness resources to residents.
Below is an example of the money expended by three municipalities in the Rio Grande Valley Region. These figures increase every year at an alarming rate leaving cities, counties and taxpayers at a disadvantage.
Hidalgo County
City of McAllen
City of Edinburg
The total sum for these three entries is a staggering $1,801,062. Numerous amounts of cities within the three counties also pay the annual sums to animal shelters to provide the necessary facilities and services increasing the total amount to over $2.5 million.
