Harris County Public Health

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) is a department of the government of Harris County, Texas.

The agency's headquarters are in the Sheila Jackson Lee Building in Downtown Houston.

It was formerly known as Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES).

History

Barbie Robinson was the director until her 2024 termination. She had plans to file a lawsuit against the county government. Kim Ogg, the county district attorney, had filed criminal charges against Robinson, but these charges were dismissed, and the county commissioners voted to cover Robinson's legal fees.

After Robinson's termination, Leah Barton became the interim director of the department. She was officially named the director in 2025.

Divisions

Harris County Pets

Harris County Pets (animal shelter)

Harris County Pets, formerly known as Harris County Rabies/Animal Control, is the county-run animal shelter and animal control service. Its facility is in northern Houston. It is an open-intake shelter that covers unincorporated Harris County.

The current county animal shelter facility, the 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) Harris County Pets Resource Center, began operations in 2020. It can hold 525 animals, twice the number of animals as the previous facility. It was financed by a 2015-passed bond worth $24,000,000.

In 2019 the live release rate, meaning the rate that dogs and cats left the shelter alive, was 95.7. This means it would be considered a "no kill shelter". In 2024 the shelter had a goal of a 95% release rate.

Previously the agency had a 30-day hold stay for animals before the animal would be scheduled for euthanasia. In 2024 the agency reduced this to 15 days.

References

  1. ↑ "Contact Us". Harris County Public Health. Retrieved 2026-11-04. 1111 Fannin Street Houston, TX 77002
  2. ↑ "Harris County Dedicates Downtown Building to Late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee". Harris County Precinct 1. 2025-05-15. Retrieved 2026-11-04.
  3. ↑ "Divisions". Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services. Archived from the original on 2005-04-27. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
  4. ↑ Morris, Mike (2024-08-30). "Harris County Public Health leader is fired as emails raise questions about $6M contract award". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
  5. ↑ McGuinness, Dylan; Morris, Mike (2024-09-05). "Recently fired Harris County Public Health director Barbie Robinson plans to sue the county". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
  6. ↑ Lomax, John V (2025-06-26). "County to pay more than $200k for former Public Health Director Barbie Robinson's legal fees". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
  7. ↑ Lomax, John V (2025-09-03). "Harris County names new public health director 1 year after predecessor fired amid controversy". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
  8. ↑ "Home". Harris County Rabies/Animal Control. Archived from the original on 2005-06-09. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
  9. ↑ "Home". Harris County Pets. Government of Harris County, Texas. Retrieved 2026-11-04. 612 Canino Rd. Houston, TX 77076
  10. 1 2 Lomax, John V (2024-10-11). "Houston-area animal shelters are bursting at the seams. Are 'no-kill' policies to blame?". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
  11. ↑ Hennes, Rebecca (2020-01-10). "New Harris County Animal Shelter facility set to open this summer will double capacity levels". Chron.com. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
  12. ↑ Warren, Karen; Sewing, Joy (2019-04-11). "Harris County Animal Shelter reaches "no kill" status". Chron.com. Retrieved 2026-11-05.
  13. ↑ Lomax, John V (2024-11-17). "Harris County Pets announces new euthanasia policy, sparking outcry from pet lovers and activists". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-11-05.