There may not be room at the inn for our furry friends this holiday season.

City of Katy Animal Control Supervisor David Brown told the Katy Times that the animal control facility operated by the city is nearing capacity -- and that there is very little help in sight for the animals that end up there.

“A lot of animal rescues and shelters in the area are in the same situation that we are in,” Brown said. Those shelters are also at their limit and are unable to take in any more animals, he said.

People are often having to give up their pets in today’s economy, Brown said, as they face the challenges of feeding their families or dealing with healthcare expenses.

Brown said that, although pet surrenders are not accepted at the city facility, that there is “a lot of dog dumping” there. Arrangements must be made in advance with the department for officers to retrieve the pet from a Katy residence that falls within the City of Katy city limits – and only within the city limits. “If you get your water bill from the City of Katy, you live in the city limits,” Brown said.

There are 16 pets – 13 dogs and three cats – currently in the Katy facility. Brown says there is room to take seven more animals – but that is not a lot of space when six more dogs are found in one of the city’s neighborhoods, as they were during the last week of October. Fortunately, Animal Control was able to reunite those dogs with their owner – and Brown says that is always the objective of his department. “We always want to get them back home,” he said.

If an animal has current tags, Brown and his officers can contact the owner if the information is correct. Microchipping also helps in matching owners with their lost pets, he added.

Brown said that the animal control department should be the very last resort for someone who can no longer keep their pet. He recommended first reaching out to friends and family to try to rehome the pet, then contacting the larger nonprofit animal rescues in the area. Brown said that the department never wants to euthanize an animal but that sometimes they have no choice.

Brown also outlined other ways for area residents to help the City of Katy’s overcrowded animal control department. Donations – both monetary and of food and supplies – are always welcome. Canned food is especially needed, he said. Volunteers are needed, too, particularly when the department does an adoption event in conjunction with area rescues. And for those who cannot adopt or foster but who still want to be involved in helping the dogs is in the shelter, Brown recommended volunteering at the department to help socialize the dogs who are isolated in kennels. “We’re not a shelter,” he said. “This is no place for a puppy to grow up.”

Animal lovers can also follow the department on social media and share photos of animals who need a home. To view the pets now being housed at the facility, go to cityofkaty.com/government/city-departments/police-department/animal-control/pets-in-the-shelter.

The facility is located just off the I-10 feeder road at 25839 I-10 East between FM 1463 and Pin Oak Persons wishing to visit any animals in the shelter may do so by making an appointment.

Individuals wanting to adopt or foster a pet in the shelter may contact any of the city’s approved nonprofit rescue groups listed on their website at cityofkaty.com/government/city-departments/police-department/animal-control.

For more information, please contact Brown at dbrown@katypd.com.