What is the Wise County Messenger reporting about the countys newly opened animal shelter?”
Five dead horses and more than two dozen others in declining health were removed Sunday from the Wise County ranch of a Southlake doctor who is serving probation for animal cruelty. Elizabeth Rohr, a family practitioner, is serving probation for failing to properly care for horses she kept on her 837-acre ranch. Dr. Rohr has not been charged with any new crimes. A warrant for animal cruelty has been issued against her, said her Fort Worth attorney, Gerald Staton. He said the doctor would turn herself in this week. Last year, Dr. Rohr pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and was fined $1,250. As part of the plea bargain, the doctor was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and serve two years’ probation. In the recent case, Dr. Rohr is accused of abusing horses in her care. “We found 27 animals that were emaciated or very sick,” said Wise County Sheriff Doug Whitehead. The sheriff’s department is investigating operations at the doctor’s ranch in Par
More than two years ago the state of Texas shut down Wise County’s animal shelter after it received unsatisfactory ratings, but now the county is poised to open a brand new facility for the county’s stray cats and dogs. “It will probably open sometime next week,” said Lt. John Thompson, who heads the animal control division for Wise County Sheriff’s Department. “It’s going to be good for the whole county and for the animals.” With the opening of the new shelter, the county seeks to re-establish interlocal agreements with Wise County towns and cities that don’t run their own shelters. Bridgeport and Decatur are the only municipalities that do. Several towns have hired private contractors to pick up strays during the two-year vacuum. The new shelter will house 88 dogs and 24 cats. It will most likely be open six days a week, including Saturdays, in order to best serve those wanting to adopt a pet. Three to four employees will run the shelter. Precinct 2 commissioner Kevin Burns said the
The Wise County Sheriff’s office is considering euthanizing some animals as the county’s newly opened shelter faces overcrowding, the Wise County Messenger reported. The Wise County Animal Shelter, located at 119 PR 4195 off Farm Road 51 South in Decatur, gained its first occupant, a little puppy named Fred, before it was even officially open to new residents. It is now nearly filled to capacity, just one week after opening. As of Friday, the shelter tallied 72 dogs and 22 cats. The shelter is waiving adoption fees through the end of August in an effort to reduce the crowding.
