TUESDAY April 11, 2023
VOLUME 112 ISSUE 29 www.UniversityStar.com
HAYS COUNTY
Local pet resource center to be built By Samantha Guerrero News Contributor On March 28, the Hays County Commissioners Office approved the Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) production of a new Hays County animal center called the Hays County Pet Resource Center. With production, management and medical services led by APA!, this new center will aid in alleviating the shelter
crisis. This resource center is being built to support the pets, outdated shelter and staff. According to Hays County court staff, they are confident in ensuring that the pets will become a priority. "What we're trying to do is partner with a well-known organization that understands don't kill, and that understands how to care for animals in a way that lessens their the rate of capture inside the facility," Alexander Villalobos, Hays County chief of staff said.
SEE HAYS COUNTY PAGE 3 PHOTOS BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
(Top) A pair of dogs look out of their kennels, Saturday, April 8, 2023, at The San of Marcos Regional Animal Shelter. (Right) Rockey grabs the fence from inside his kennel, Saturday, April 8, 2023, at The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter. Rockey is a white and brown terrier and American staffordshire boxer.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
"He's a dog": Harrell finishes career By Xavier Zamarron Sports Reporter After an illustrious career that saw him finish first in games played, second in games started, third in career assists and sixth in career points scored, graduate guard Mason Harrell brings his time at Texas State to a close. Harrell is the sixth player in Texas State program history to be a three-time all-conference selection, and he helped guide his team to back-to-back Sun Belt Conference championships in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons. Despite his career accolades and success in a Bobcat jersey, Harrell's fellow graduate student and teammate Nighael Ceaser thinks of him as something more than a basketball player. "When I think of Mason, it’s more like a best friend, more like a brother," Ceaser said. "Somebody I went through a lot with, learned PHOTO BY a lot with. There are game-winners, I see the hard work SARAH MANNING
ADOPTION
and can envision a bunch of moments, but when I think of Mason, he’s a brother." Harrell recognizes that he's had a great career, but doesn't like to get too full of himself. "I don’t really look at myself as a legend, I think that’s for other people to decide," Harrell said. "It’s cool to hear stuff like that. It kind of puts into perspective all the hard work and everything, but I don’t feel like that." Harrell is all about working hard, staying focused and being the best teammate he can be. That is easier said than done, especially as a 5-foot-9-inch point guard, but Harrell was always ready for the challenge.
SEE MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE 12
Texas State senior guard Mason Harrell waves to Bobcat fans, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2023, at Strahan Arena.
COMPANIONSHIP
Emotional support How to adopt a pet in San Marcos animals comfort By Marisa Nunez Life and Arts Editor San Marcos is home to many pet owners and animal lovers, but it is also home to several stray animals. The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter offers simple steps in the adoption process, making it easy for animals to find a forever home. The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter is over capacity due to dumping, overproduction of animals and surrendered animals. Many look to breeders and puppy mills to buy a new pet instead of adoption. “We do see a lot of like adopted pets from [The] San Marcos Animal Shelter, but then again, we also see an equal amount of if not more people buying from puppy mills and stuff like that,” Kenna Van Keuren, an employee at Tickle-Blagg Animal Hospital, said.
To adopt from the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter owners must be over 18-years old with a valid ID. All animals available for adoption have been spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. A green border on the kennel card means the animal is available for adoption. While selecting a pet, the shelter asks that no fingers are stuck into cages. To interact with animals, a staff member at the shelter can show future owners and pets to a yard to meet.
students By Sarah Hernandez Managing Editor College students love their pets, whether it is the family dog they are missing at home, the apartment cat they adopted with their roommates or the pet store fish they bought on a whim. No connection compares, however, to students and their emotional support animals.
"You kind of personify your ESA [emotional support animal], and it's not an animal that just exists like a pet or something, but it's more like, 'this is a human being that understands me, and I understand her,'" Grace Alter, a marketing senior, said. Alter is the owner and companion of Onyx, an 11-year-old black and white tuxedo cat who has lived with Alter for two
ILLISTRATION BY AFAAF ALNAHAS
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years. Alter registered Onyx as her ESA with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) last year when she lived in Chautauqua Hall. Onyx has been Alter's comfort and security during some of the trying times in her life. She said Onyx was there for her through things like familial problems, mental health diagnoses and the transition from homeschooling and community college to university life at Texas State. "Don't stop yourself from having the college experience because you're relying on an animal," Alter said. "It should be an asset rather than something holding you back."
Mr. Claus stares out his kennel, Saturday, April 8, 2023, at The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter. Mr. Claus is a Siberian husky mix.
PHOTO BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
SEE COMPANIONSHIP PAGE 5