Mission ends partnership with RGV Humane Society

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — During Monday's city council meeting, Mission city leaders voted to terminate their contract with the RGV Humane Society.

The RGV Humane Society operated the Mission Animal Shelter under the supervision of the city health department.

Previously operating in Harlingen, the RGV Humane Society cut ties with Harlingen back in 2023 over financial disputes. It has operated in Mission as a no-kill shelter since January of 2023, but some believe the conditions of the shelter are not suitable for animals.

"They call themselves no-kill, but they don't call themselves no-torture and that's what they were doing to those animals," Dendea Balli, the executive director of Paws Fur Help said.

Balli spoke at the city council meeting on Monday and said she provided a PowerPoint to city leaders showcasing the alleged mistreatment of the animals.

"There is nothing humane about what the Humane Society is doing," Balli said at the meeting.

Others spoke out as well. A Mission resident said she donated several elevated beds to the shelter because she saw dogs laying in their own feces.

"The animals had been laying in their own feces for days or weeks," the woman said. "The person who was cleaning the shelter was awful."

City leaders voted unanimously to cut ties with the shelter after 60 days and take over the operations.

"During this 60-day transition period, the city and the RGV Humane Society will work together to ensure that pets receive the highest level of care," city officials stated in a press release.

Balli, who said her organization has been advocating for the animals in the shelter, said she believes some people with the RGV Humane Society should still face criminal charges.

“I am still convinced that criminal action should be taken against several individuals who are primarily responsible for this," Balli said. "You’ve got board members there, you’ve got presidents, you’ve got people that knew about this and looked away.”