New Concern with Animal Shelter
By: Julie Musgrave
Updated: May 15, 2009
There's growing concern about some cost-cutting at the animal shelter. Animal services tells us euthanized animals are no longer being cremated. But rather, frozen and taken to a landfill just north of the city.
High natural gas costs forced them to shut down crematorium operations in January. Director Kevin Overstreet says this practice is legal and environmentally sound.
He says it's necessary because of the high numbers of animals being brought into the shelter.
Kevin Overstreet, Lubbock Animal Services: "It's not something that we're all proud of, that we have to euthanize this many animals and then take them to the landfill, but it's reality. And you know, it's all being done within the guidelines of what the state asked us to do and what the federal government as well." Overstreet says they will return to using the crematorium after this fiscal year once the budget is back in the black.
