We Care Wildlife Sanctuary has been ordered to surrender animals to Bandera County following a civil judgment issued Tuesday afternoon by Justice of the Peace Gina Grothues.
Under Grothues’ order, all horses, pigs, cows and other animals on the Lakehills property are to be removed, with exceptions for dogs, goats, one donkey, frogs and certain birds.
The order came during a hearing which Grothues says was mandated by Texas law, which requires a hearing to determine what happens to animals within 10 days of their seizure.
“This is a civil hearing; it’s only about what happens to the animals,” Grothues said Tuesday. “This is not criminal or punitive. That is all that is in my power. There will be another day for other issues.”
The order follows a Sept. 4 search and seizure warrant executed at the sanctuary by Bandera County authorities. More than 100 animals were seized during the investigation and transported to appropriate locations for treatment and testing.
The case was heard Sept. 14-15 at the Bandera County Courthouse, where veterinarians and animal welfare representatives testified about the conditions they observed at the sanctuary.
Bandera County Attorney Janna Lindig argued during closing statements that the conditions at We Care Wildlife Sanctuary met the definition of torture and cruel treatment under Texas law.
“We saw dead monkeys, extremely emaciated horses, tortoises with lack of cover and muscle,” Lindig said. “They were unreasonably deprived of food, water and care.”
Testimony included firsthand accounts and photographs documenting deceased animals and skeletal remains found throughout the property.
Among the evidence presented in court were photographs of a deceased monkey in a freezer, another unidentified dead and decomposed animal in a freezer, skeletal remains scattered throughout the property and remains found in empty water troughs. A burn pit containing skeletal remains also was shown to the court.
David Fuentes, an animal rescue responder with the American Humane Society, testified about the conditions he observed while assisting with the investigation.
“Every single pen had these types of skeletal remains inside where the [live] animals were penned,” Fuentes said.
Multiple witnesses testified that the living animals did not have adequate food, water, shelter or care.
Animals examined as part of the warrant were assigned body condition scores on a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 representing the healthiest condition. Animals with scores of 4 or below were seized during the Sept. 4 warrant execution.
The evidence and testimony prompted emotional reactions from people in the courtroom, with attendees in the gallery gasping and crying as photographs and accounts of the animals’ conditions were presented.
In addition to ordering the removal of the animals, Grothues’ order prohibits the sanctuary from receiving or caring for new animals for five years.
The order also requires all animals remaining at the property to be spayed or neutered.
“We will not have a breeding program there,” Grothues said.
The order further requires animal carcasses on the property to be buried or removed.
“It is a health and safety issue,” Grothues said.
Representatives of We Care Wildlife Sanctuary were not present at the hearing Tuesday, though they were present Monday and presented questions to witnesses. They have the opportunity to appeal the order.
This is a developing story. See Sunday’s Bulletin for the latest news.
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