The Kaufman County Commissioners Court extended its contract with the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake for six months recently.

Dogs picked up by animal control officers will continue going to the animal shelter in Tool in Henderson County for at least six months, and the contract includes an option to extend the contract for another six months. Previously, the county contracted with animal shelter officials for one year at a time, but the group asked for an increase in fees.

County Judge Bruce Wood said the contract extension would give Kaufman County more time to construct its own animal shelter.

County officials agreed to pay a flat fee of $9,300 per month. The nonprofit group had asked for $11,000 per month. Prior to the new contract, the county paid $75 per animal.

The county has budgeted $250,000 to build an animal shelter on the grounds of the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Dept. The six-month contract extension will be needed if that shelter is not ready May 1.

The county contracts with Kaufman County Cats for the housing of stray cats.

Dogs taken to the Tool shelter can be put up for adoption after 72 hours, but many of the strays wind up being euthanized because of the large number of abandoned pets in the Cedar Creek Lake area. Animal shelters are prohibited from overcrowding facilities by state law.

Animal rights organizations urge pet owners to get their pets spayed to prevent animals from becoming homeless.

HSCCL officials said the contract extension would give them time to prepare for the loss of income from Kaufman County.

(The white schnauzer in the photo was found wandering on the Henderson Kaufman County Line Road without a tag. The dog was reunited with his owner because of a lost animal sign posted in a store window. The owner said she had no idea how the dog got out of the house.)