The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter will stop accepting animals found outside of the San Marcos city limits starting in late 2026. This decision comes as the shelter struggles with overcrowding and low funding to care for its animals.
On Aug. 20, the San Marcos City Council voted to return regional animal services responsibility to Hays County. The decision is expected to relieve the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter’s overcrowded facilities and provide better support for local pet owners while easing financial stress. Surrounding animal shelters in Hays County can expect to see an increase in their animal intake numbers once the policy takes effect.
Growing Animal Shelter Population
The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter has seen drastic increases in their animal population over the last 3 years, with their most notable increase coming after San Marcos’s ban on retail puppy sales in 2023. From October 2023 to August 2024, the shelter received 3,700 animals, exceeding its projected population growth by more than 500 animals. Being the only intake facility in Hays County, the shelter receives anywhere between 25-100 animals weekly from cities outside of San Marcos. With such a substantial rise in the animal population at the shelter, supplies such as food, medicine, toys, and bedding are stretched thin.
Visitors and fosters witness the impact of overcrowding firsthand, with the shelter being at least 30 kennels, and up to 50 kennels, over capacity on any given day.
San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter Volunteer Logan Olsen believes this change will allow the shelter to better support its own animals.
“Donations and funding only go so far,” Olsen said. “The less animals we have, the more we will be able to use our donations, fundings, and supplies. For example, medicine will go a lot further for sure.”
Until 2026, the shelter will continue to handle high intake numbers, run promotional efforts, and seek donations.
Animal Welfare at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter
The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter is the only shelter in Hays County that is open to the intake of animals. As a result of the growing population at the shelter, more animals are susceptible to disease and illness. When stray or unhoused animals who are sick are brought into the shelter, the risk of contamination and disease spreading throughout the animal population greatly increases. As a result, the animals can require intensive care, special diets, specific toys, and new bedding. These necessities become increasingly harder to acquire and maintain as the animal population continues to rise.
With little funding, the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter is finding it increasingly difficult to continue offering discounted pricing for the spaying, neutering, and vaccination of animals in the community. San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter manager Christie Banduch advocates for the betterment of animal services provided at the shelter.
“So, I think that the biggest thing is just looking at how the county has grown, how the population has grown, and how the needs of our animals and pet owners in the community have changed,” Banduch stated. “This has kind of spurred some of these conversations about how we can better and more effectively provide animal services for everybody in our community.”
The Impact on Surrounding Shelters
With the regional animal shelter closing its doors to animals found outside of the San Marcos city limits, it is expected that other animal shelters’ populations in the area will, as a result, begin to see a larger influx of animals. Shelter experts like Christie Banduch are adapting to this shift, while nearby shelters brace for the added burden.
Alexis Hernandez, volunteer at PAWS Central Texas Animal Shelter, is preparing for the increase of animals at PAWS.
“We are anticipating a lot more animals to be dropped off or turned in here once that change actually goes into effect in 2026,” Hernandez detailed.”But it’s hard to gauge how many more we’ll be dealing with.”
Neighboring shelters may need to increase their staff and resources in anticipation of a larger workload and expanded animal population.
Working Together for a Solution
The ultimate goal of these changes being implemented is to reduce overcrowding at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter and ensure the shelter’s funding and supplies be explicitly used for the city of San Marcos’s animals. By redirecting resources and focusing on the local community needs, the shelter aims to improve the quality of care for its existing population while addressing the larger issues that come with it.
The shelter hosts regular adoption events and provides a list of needed supplies on its website.
Ashley Roberson cleans the animal areas at least twice daily to maintain hygiene standards. Some of the dogs enjoy splashing around in the water once the kennels have been cleaned. (Photo credit: Olivia Smith) 
Sydney Bonnin ensures all animals have clean drinking water throughout the shelter. Animals under veterinary care receive special signs on their kennels that detail their current condition as well as when they are able to be adopted. (Photo credit: Olivia Smith) 
The shelter carefully cleans and sanitizes toys daily, but the high number of animals means toys are often in short supply. Donations of toys to the SMRAS could help provide entertainment to the growing population of animals. (Photo credit: Olivia Smith) 
The SMRAS has seen a significant rise in the number of puppies, with intake numbers nearly doubling what they were 3 years ago. Staff report that the overcrowding is making it difficult to anticipate the shelter’s needs. (Photo credit: Olivia Smith) 
The SMRAS has had a significant increase in its cat population. In 2021 alone, there was a total intake of 4,983 animals, 700 more than the previous year, and included a large influx of cats. (Photo credit: Olivia Smith) 
Chris Schultz washes dishes to ensure the animals at the SMRAS have clean food and water bowls. Employees and volunteers work together to keep the shelter running efficiently. (Photo credit: Olivia Smith) 
Hours old newborn puppies cuddle together in the kennel they were born in while their mother receives care in the on site veterinary clinic. The SMRAS provides care for pregnant animals and their offspring. (Photo credit: Olivia Smith) 
The reception area at the SMRAS is the hub for adoptions, volunteer sign-ups, and donations. Staff and volunteers work here to support the needs of the shelter. (Photo credit: Olivia Smith)
