Collin County Animal Services will no longer hold certain stray or impounded animals for five days before making a placement decision.

The Collin County Commissioners court voted Monday, May 11, to approve a request from Misty Brown, manager of the county’s animal services division, to reduce the mandatory hold time from five days (120 hours) to three days (72 hours) from the time of impoundment. The item, on the consent agenda, was approved unanimously without discussion.

The new rule applies to animals over 5 months of age, excluding livestock, and was “intended to improve animal welfare by reducing length of stay in the shelter, minimizing the spread of disease and allowing animals to be placed into appropriate outcomes more quickly,” Brown said.

All animals are scanned for a microchip upon intake and Collin County Animal Services will make “diligent and timely” efforts to identify and contact the legal owner using all available information, including but not limited to microchip registration, ID tags, collars and vaccination records, Brown said.

But Princeton pet advocate Angela Lowrance says communication with the shelter is already difficult.

“There simply is not a sufficient system in place to support reunification before that shortened timeline runs out,” she said. “Better communication, easier access to lost-and-found information and stronger efforts to connect lost and found reports could help prevent families from permanently losing beloved pets.”

Animals not reclaimed within the 72-hour hold period will become the property of Collin County, at which point placement decisions — including adoption, transfer to rescue partners or other lawful disposition — would be made at the discretion of Animal Services.

Brown said “other lawful disposition” could include euthanasia.

“However, we do not anticipate an increase in euthanasia in any way due to the change,” she said.  “As a matter of fact, this change should help to ease overcrowding and dramatically lessen the chances for euthanasia for space as the adoptable animals can move through the shelter more quickly.”

Brown said euthanasia was not a subject taken lightly at Collin County Animal Services.

“We strive to do everything in our power to avoid doing that,” she said.  “When it must be done, euthanasia has always been, and will continue to be, carried out using only State-approved, humane methods that are administered with the greatest of care.”

Lowrance, with Pawsome Purrpaws Rescues, said more than 86,000 pets were euthanized in Texas in 2025.

“Reducing stray hold times without improving reunification systems risks increasing that number and causing more heartbreak for families already struggling to find their missing pets,” she said

The shelter said if a stray animal of any species except livestock is under 5 months of age, and the owner is not known, it may become county property immediately upon impoundment depending on communicable disease concerns, condition or health of the animal and the need for care beyond what the shelter can provide.

“Collin County Animal Services remains committed to reuniting pets with their owners and encourages residents to ensure their pets are microchipped and wearing current identification tags,” the shelter said.

Lowrance said pet owners are often told they should physically come to the shelter to look for their pet.

“But that is difficult for many families due to work schedules, transportation or other obligations,” she said.

Microchipping is available at the shelter for $15 per pet and can be completed during any regular business hours at the shelter, 4750 Community Ave. in McKinney.

The shelter services rural Collin County and cities including Princeton, Farmersville and Lucas.

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