The Terrell County Animal Shelter is temporarily closed because its air-conditioning system is not functioning properly, leaving the facility too hot to safely house animals, Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland said Tuesday.
Cleveland issued a public statement addressing what he described as “several different narratives” circulating about the shelter’s closure and said adequate cooling is necessary for animals during the extreme heat experienced in Terrell County.
“At this time, the shelter cannot safely house animals because the air-conditioning system is not functioning properly,” Cleveland said.
The sheriff also responded to questions raised by a member of the Terrell County Commissioners Court about whether air conditioning at the shelter is primarily intended for human comfort.
Cleveland rejected that characterization, saying his responsibility is to ensure animals in county custody are housed under safe conditions.
“During the extreme heat we experience in Terrell County, adequate cooling is necessary for the health and safety of animals housed in our care,” Cleveland said. “I will not knowingly place an animal in conditions I believe are unsafe.”
The closure recently affected how the sheriff’s office handled a dog that needed shelter. Cleveland said temperatures inside the facility made it unsafe to keep the dog there, so he personally fostered the animal while officials worked toward finding it an adoptive home.
Cleveland also addressed the sheriff’s office’s approach to loose dogs, saying deputies generally prioritize safely returning animals to their owners rather than automatically issuing citations.
“In our small community, we can often identify an animal and its owner and safely return the dog home,” Cleveland said. He added that enforcement action could still be taken when circumstances warrant it.
The sheriff thanked the person working to repair the shelter’s air-conditioning system and said the goal is to return the facility to a condition where animals can safely be housed.
Cleveland said he welcomes questions about the shelter and its operations but pushed back against speculation surrounding the closure.
“What I don’t want is speculation being repeated as fact,” he said.
The sheriff’s office did not provide an estimated date for the shelter to reopen.
