It's been a tumultuous three months for the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter.
Allegations of animal cruelty, funding issues, and overcrowding are among the hurdles the staff has faced since it opened in March.
Most of the animals there have been rescued. So, the fact that there even is a shelter is a luxury.
But some say the animals at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter aren't being taken care of properly.
Shelter volunteer Lori Rogowski is one of them.
"I've never seen conditions like that at any of the other four shelters I've worked at. Never, ever," Rogowski said.
She was volunteering last month, when she made a grisly discovery: dead cats left in a cage.
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Shelter woes
The Wilco Animal Shelter has been plagued with problems since its opening this spring.
 
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"I found the dead kitten and the dead cat in deplorable conditions. The cage was just filthy, apparently no food and water had been provided that day because it was bone dry. The animals were crowded in there. A lot of them were sick, and it really concerned me that that was going on at the shelter," Rogowski said.
Others have also criticized the shelter. In fact, a group of concerned residents started a website so others could blog and voice their experiences and concerns.
"This is a beautiful state-of-the-art facility, but it's not being taken care of. The animals inside are dying basically from lack of care," Rogowski said.
The $3.9 million facility has been overcrowded since the day it opened.
"I just think the commissioners have dropped the ball. I commend them for funding the facility, but they've got to step up now and provide the funding and the staffing," Georgetown resident Dave Frase said.
At their last meeting, county commissioners did approved a boost to the shelter's budget, but that won't go into effect until 2008.
Meanwhile, the shelter is scrambling to replace the director who quit last month, and fill other open positions. The interim director has been in place since June 1.
The shelter has also hired additional staff to alleviate the problem.
"I think it all comes down to staffing and I think we have addressed that, or we're currently addressing that," Bob Drawbaugh said. He is the chairman of the board for the shelter.
As it is, there are more volunteers working here than paid employees. But for the helpless tenants, the changes can't come soon enough.
"While we're talking about this, animals are over there suffering," Rogowski said.
Lori and other volunteers who witnessed the alleged neglect went to authorities.
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the allegations of animal cruelty.
When News 8 entered the facility, there were no indications that the animals weren't being cared for. Some of the cages did overflow into the hallways and even restrooms.
The cities affiliated with the shelter are also stepping in to remediate the problem.
The City of Leander recently appointed Councilmember John Perez as a liaison for the shelter. The issue is on the agenda for Thursday's city council meeting in Cedar Park, and some residents plan to bring up the shelter at Round Rock's city council meeting this week as well.
