Steven Greene

Steven Greene died unexpectedly on 9 November 2026. The City of Lubbock announced his death the same day; it did not give his age, the place of death or a cause, and none had been made public at the time of the reports.

Deputy City Manager Bill Howerton said: "Steven took on one of the most challenging, and thankless, roles at the City of Lubbock. He served with class and integrity, and made immeasurable improvements to the department during his 13-year tenure. Steven, his leadership and friendship will be missed."

Assistant Director Taylor Ruggles said: "Steven was more than a mentor to the staff. He was our cheerleader, our life coach and on-the-job therapist. He loved his staff as much as he did animals." She added that the department was committed to continuing his ideals and goals. The city invited residents to donate to or volunteer at Lubbock Animal Services in his honour. Funeral arrangements had not been announced.

Steven Greene was born and raised in the Lubbock area of West Texas, according to the City of Lubbock. Details of his date of birth, family and education were not included in the city's announcements or in news reports of his death. When he was named director in 2018 the city said he had more than 15 years of leadership experience, five of them with the City of Lubbock.

Greene joined the City of Lubbock in August 2013 as a field officer with Lubbock Animal Services. He was promoted to lead field officer in June 2015, and later served as interim field supervisor and assistant director.

His rise coincided with a public reckoning over the shelter. In 2017 and early 2018 residents and animal welfare advocates repeatedly attended city council meetings to object to the shelter's euthanasia rate, with upward of 70 percent of animals being put down. The previous director retired, and an interim director, Jennifer Harvell, began a change of direction in which Greene, as assistant director, played a leading part. The save rate rose from 52 percent in March 2018 to above 90 percent in June, July and August of that year.

After a national search the city named Greene director, effective 20 September 2018. Harvell said he was "the best choice to lead Lubbock Animal Services forward" and that the 90 percent save rate was evidence of his dedication. Greene told KCBD the shelter now had a disease-free building and vaccinated animals ready for adoption, and credited social media, volunteers, foster resources and rescue and transport partners.

Under his leadership the shelter stopped euthanising for space and reserved euthanasia for severely aggressive or gravely ill animals, such as those badly injured by cars or gunshots. It expanded off-site adoptions, neighbourhood mini-clinics, a volunteer programme and a return-to-owner programme run by field officers. In November 2018 the save rate was 93.9 percent, against 29 percent a year earlier, and by 2021 the department reported a save rate of nearly 99 percent. He remained director until his death, a total of 13 years with the department.

Greene kept his private life out of the public eye, and details of his family and survivors had not been released at the time his death was reported. Colleagues described his warmth toward his staff and his love of animals, and Assistant Director Taylor Ruggles ended her tribute with "go Red Raiders!".

Greene's time at Lubbock Animal Services saw one of the most dramatic turnarounds of any municipal shelter in Texas, from a save rate below 30 percent in late 2017 to close to 99 percent within a few years, achieved through a change of policy rather than a change in funding. Thousands of dogs and cats that would once have been put down were adopted, fostered, transferred to rescues or returned to their owners. His colleagues pledged to carry on the approach he championed.