At the July 10 City Council meeting, Bellaire City Council voted unanimously to approve a proposal for two dog pound facilities, a primary facility and a temporary hold/transfer facility.
Bellaire Police Chief Lopez presented the proposal to build a new facility on W. Bellfort to be used as the City’s primary dog pound and to make limited improvements to the existing facility on Edith Street. After improvements, the current pound will be used as a temporary hold and transfer center to facilitate owner reunifications and reduce travel time for police officers when the City’s animal control officer is not on duty. Dogs will be held for 3 days. However, during extreme weather conditions, dogs can be transferred immediately.
The new Bellaire Pound will be a modular facility located at 2328 W. Bellfort in Houston and will be leased to the City for $1 per year by Texas Pipe and Supply Company, Ltd.. Funds for the modular building and associated improvements, valued at up to $200,000, will be donated by the Jerry and Maury Rubenstein Foundation (“Rubenstein Foundation”). Council expressed gratitude to Texas Pipe and Supply, where Bellaire Police have their firearms training facility, and to the Rubenstein Foundation for their generous donations.
For the new modular facility, the City’s cost will include: permitting and inspections, landscaping, an ADA ramp, a fire system, security cameras, and limited technology and furnishings.
Improvements to the existing Pound will include: upgrading the electrical system to allow for additional load caused by fans, installing fans to increase air circulation inside the facility, modifying kennel fencing barriers to minimize nose-to-nose contact between dogs, installing durable sunshades to increase and improve shade, repairing a crack in one wall, painting walls inside and out, and replacing the rusted front door.
The estimated cost to the city for both facilities will not exceed $150,000.
