A total of 137 animals from We Care Wildlife Sanctuary have been relocated to three nonprofit organizations across Texas following a court order requiring their removal from the Lakehills property, according to Bandera County Attorney Janna Lindig.
The relocation follows the sanctuary’s failure to appeal the ruling within the 10-day deadline. The animals include those initially seized by Bandera County authorities Sept. 4 and additional animals covered by Justice of the Peace Gina Grothues’ subsequent order on Sept. 15.
Authorities initially seized 107 animals during execution of a search and seizure warrant. The court order required the removal of additional animals from the property, bringing the total number seized and relocated to 137, Lindig said.
The animals have been distributed among three 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations across Texas.
About 30 animals remain at the sanctuary, Lindig confirmed. The court order allows the animals to remain under specified exceptions, including dogs, goats, one donkey, frogs and certain birds.
Two hogs also remain in the county’s care and are expected to be auctioned. Additional details about the auction are forthcoming.
Lindig also confirmed that a snake seized from the property died after being transferred to a caretaker. Conditions at the sanctuary when the snake was seized contributed to its death, she said.
During the Sept. 1415 civil hearing, testimony described the snake as extremely thin. Witnesses said it had nearly been euthanized but was not because it remained capable of lifting its head.
Grothues’ order prohibits the sanctuary from receiving or caring for new animals for five years and bars it from operating a breeding program. It also requires animal carcasses remaining on the property to be properly buried or removed and allows supervision by Bandera County law enforcement for 10 years.
The ruling followed testimony from veterinarians, animal welfare professionals and county officials about conditions they said they observed at the property. Witnesses described inadequate food and water, unsafe enclosures and animal remains throughout the sanctuary.
Sanctuary owner Armando Mendez had 10 days to appeal the ruling. No appeal was filed by the deadline, leaving the court’s order in effect.
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