FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas — Fort Bend County officials are looking for a permanent facility to house stray livestock and exotic animals after years of relying on a private property owned by a sheriff’s deputy who plans to retire next year.
Assistant Chief Deputy Manuel Zamora raised the issue during the Aug. 13 Commissioners Court meeting, calling it a decades-old concern for the county.
“Fort Bend County does not have the infrastructure to handle loose livestock and exotic animals and even exotic fowl,” Zamora said.
The county does not own a barn, stalls, pens or acreage for sheltering or pasturing animals found wandering without identifiable owners. Officials said they have spent about 18 months searching for land or facilities to lease or purchase but have not found a suitable site.
The Sheriff’s Office Livestock Unit captures more than 2,500 loose animals each year, according to county documents. The two deputies assigned to the unit also generate more than $23,000 annually in overtime costs.
Each animal can require 18 days or more of care, including veterinary services, feeding, quarantine and medication while deputies try to locate its owner. Feed and medication costs the county an estimated $37,000 to $48,000 annually.
Zamora said the livestock unit also serves as a first line of defense against livestock-related disease outbreaks and other agricultural concerns.
The county currently uses a five-acre gated property near Beasley that belongs to one of the livestock deputies. The deputy plans to retire next year.
The Sheriff’s Office proposed an interim arrangement that would give the two livestock deputies monthly stipends while the county searches for land and develops a permanent barn and quarantine facility.
Under the proposal, each livestock deputy would receive $1,200 a month, while the deputy who owns the property would receive $2,000 a month.
Commissioner Vincent Morales questioned the cost as development continues across the county but said officials should address the matter if state law requires the county to provide the service.
The retiring deputy agreed during Thursday’s meeting to enter into a formal contract allowing the county to continue using his property for at least another year.
The Commissioners Court said it will work with the county budget officer to finalize funding for the temporary arrangement while officials pursue a permanent facility.