By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PRESS
After ten years without meetings, the Port Isabel Animal Advisory Board convened a public session on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, restarting a committee required under Texas law to provide guidance and oversight related to municipal animal shelter operations. The meeting featured citizen comments, election of officers, and discussion of the advisory board’s responsibilities. However, differing expectations over the board’s authority, particularly whether it should influence policy, left some attendees and board members discouraged, with several attendees leaving before the meeting ended.
The meeting opened in a somewhat disjointed manner, with some confusion, during the administration of the oath of office, roll call, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members in attendance included Lonnie Gilliham, Nelda Vega, Karla Schurin, Tiffany Ochoa, Lexus Martinez, Patricia McGrath, Assistant City Manager John Sandoval, and Oscar del Abra, the Animal Control Department Head/Animal Care Services Supervisor. However, Dr. Robert Kellogg, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), was not in attendance. Texas Health & Safety Code §823.005 specifies required committee membership categories, including at least one licensed veterinarian.
During Open Forum, the first speaker was resident and foster caregiver Kathy Bardisbanian, who described fostering dogs and puppies in her home until they are adopted or transported to rescue partners. Bardisbanian said nearly 40 animals passed through her home in 2025 and noted that shelter staff face demanding conditions caring for large numbers of animals. She offered several recommendations aimed at improving welfare and adoptability, including expanded shelter visiting hours with Saturday access, more frequent kennel cleaning, consistent clean bedding and water, calming music to reduce animal stress, routine social media updates, rotating staff duties to prevent burnout, and hiring additional staff to increase outdoor time for dogs.
Len Boykin, the second speaker during Open Forum, thanked city officials for restarting the committee but noted the advisory board had not met for several years, describing the lapse as harmful to animals, public confidence, and the integrity of local animal services. Boykin expressed hope that regular meetings could improve transparency and lead to better outcomes for shelter animals.
The board then elected officers following nominations from the floor. Del Abra was nominated by Schurin and elected chair by a 5-3 vote. Gilliham was nominated by Vega and elected vice chair unanimously.
Sandoval went on to review the legal intent of the Animal Advisory Board and explained that it is subject to regulation and inspection by the Texas Department of State Health Services. According to del Abra, the shelter passed inspection in December and that the next inspection was scheduled for June.
During discussion, Sandoval stated the advisory board’s role is advisory in nature and not necessarily intended to drive policy changes. McGrath shared that during her time on another Animal Advisory Board, policy changes were influenced by board members and questioned why it was different locally.
Following that statement, several attendees appeared discouraged and quietly left the meeting, with some expressing disappointment that the board’s scope might be limited to compliance rather than reforms.
Gilliham pointed out that while state law sets minimum compliance functions, advisory boards can strive to exceed minimum standards, especially in communities struggling with stray animal overpopulation and shelter crowding.
Despite disagreements over governance and policy authority, Sandoval stated that anyone can volunteer to assist with feeding, socialization, fostering, rescue networking, adoption promotion, and transport coordination but still not accepting food donations.
At the conclusion of the meeting, board members including Gilliham, McGrath and Vega said they would prefer to meet monthly or bimonthly, but no future meeting date was set.
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