o In 2022, the Hays County Commissioners Court issued RFP 2022‐P02: Consulting Services – Animal Shelter and Animal Services Feasibility Study to evaluate and propose an appropriate animal welfare system for Hays County in response to the region’s rapid growth.

o The Facility Workshop and Needs Assessment Report conducted by Team Shelter USA identified the need for Hays County to develop its own animal resource center. At the same time, the City of San Marcos announced plans to transition from a regional to a localized municipal shelter. These developments prompted Hays County to explore partnerships and new opportunities to ensure continued and improved animal services for county residents.

o Both Hays County and the City of Kyle received notice of the San Marcos shelter transition. The City of Kyle expressed interest in developing its own animal shelter and offered the County an opportunity to collaborate. By partnering, the County and the City of Kyle can share costs, improve service delivery, and maximize operational efficiency for their shared constituents.

o The County and City are currently negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for the facility partnership.

o On September 30, 2025, the Commissioners Court reviewed and approved the draft MOU provided by the City of Kyle.

o The City of Kyle previously commissioned a shelter feasibility study by Jackson & Ryan Architects, similar to the County’s study conducted by Team Shelter USA.

o The existing design and feasibility work were based on Kyle’s needs alone. An updated study and design will be completed to incorporate the County’s participation.

o A map outlining the proposed intake service area for the Kyle Animal Resource Center is provided below. (Map reference)

o Jackson & Ryan Architects conducted a preliminary cost analysis based on data from the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, reviewing factors such as intake volume, length of stay, and animal condition. Hays County conducted a parallel analysis of the same data. The County and City of Kyle then negotiated cost percentages that accurately reflect the proportion of animals originating from each jurisdiction.

o Hays County’s analysis of FY24 (October 2023 – September 2024) intake data from the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter examined animal origin, quantity, and length of stay. The study found that most County animals entering the shelter originated in the greater Kyle area, reinforcing the suitability of the new facility’s location.

o Hays County will be responsible for a negotiated percentage of design and construction costs for the new facility. Additionally, the County will contribute an annual percentage of operational costs, as determined in the final partnership agreement.

o Hays County is actively exploring partnerships and future facility development to expand animal services across the remainder of the county beyond the Kyle facility’s service area.