Sign: Dead And Starving Dogs Found In Filthy City Animal Control Facility

Published: January 25, 2024 at 06:39 PM Author: PENNY EIMS

Marlin, Texas – In January, a man searching for his own dog at the city animal control in Marlin, Texas, made a horrifying discovery. The dogs being held in the facility’s kennels were skin and bones…surrounded by piles of feces, and lacking access to food and water. One of the dogs in the kennel area was dead, apparently the victim of starvation.

The concerned resident, Jeffrey Rich, took video of the appalling conditions and posted it to social media where it sparked a firestorm of outrage from animal lovers, and caught the eye of Police Chief Jim Hommel, who asked Rich to take the video down.

The city animal control is run by an animal control officer who reports to Chief Hommel. The police chief cited a poor “cleaning” policy for the deplorable situation, telling KWTX News:

“We need training on cleaning the kennels. We are going to look at our policies to make sure they’re cleaned properly and the dogs are treated properly.”

The horror inside of this CITY operated, taxpayer funded facility is inexcusable. If a person were to keep their dog in a filthy kennel, without food or water, they would face charges. If a person allowed their pet to starve to death, they would be arrested. But inside of this city run facility, the deplorable situation is being watered down from clear cruelty and neglect to poor cleaning practices.

Journalist Paul Mueller has been following the Marlin animal control situation and he is trying to get answers, but officials are stonewalling him; it is apparent that the neglect and cruelty is being swept under the rug.

Happening now. Marlin, Texas. The're much more to the story of the Falls County Sheriff's Office investigating the deadly discovery at the Marlin animal shelter. Marlin Police Chief James Hommel reportedly hires the animal control officer and at this point, he refuses to confirm… pic.twitter.com/kkZNBZwe0X

— Paul Mueller (@RealPaulMueller) January 20, 2024

Without significant public outrage, and a demand for accountability and reform, nothing will change. Please add your name to the petition today if you are disgusted by the conditions at the Marlin Animal Control facility and want justice for the neglected dogs.

We the undersigned demand that the animal control officer who allowed a dog at the Marlin animal control facility to starve to death, and others to live in filth, without access to food and water, be fired and charged. We demand District Attorney Kathryn ‘Jody’ Gilliam press charges against everyone involved in the blatant neglect and cruelty these dogs suffered. This petition acts as our collective endorsement for despicable acts of animal cruelty and neglect to be addressed and remedied. 

Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.

Note: After the dismal, deadly conditions were discovered at the facility, the dogs were removed and placed with area rescue groups.

News:

KWTX News

KCENTV

Update April 2025: Legal Proceedings: In March 2025, Falls County District Attorney Jody Gilliam recused herself from the case to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Robertson County District Attorney W. Coty Siegert was appointed to oversee the prosecution. As of April 2025, all charges against Hommel and Thomas have been dismissed due to insufficient evidence. However, Grams still faces one felony and nine misdemeanor charges.​
co.robertson.tx.us
Shelter Status: The Marlin Animal Shelter has remained closed since January 2024, with no announced timeline for reopening.​
📢 CALL TO ACTION: Let District Attorney W. Coty Siegert know that the community demands justice and transparency.​
EMAIL: SIEGERT@CO.ROBERTSON.TX.US

Update 8/12/2024: Journalist Paul Mueller tells Animal Victory, “The city apparently hired a so-called investigator who has had, as they tell me, no experience with animal cruelty, investigations, and they say city officials never gave him any documents so they gave him the documents he needed. So the results are now in and city officials refused to release the information even under the Texas freedom of information act citing attorney client privilege. Texas Rangers still on the case. Expected 9 to 12 months. And for the first time since we broke the story back in January, I finally received an email from the mayor. Apparently, she blocked me and put me in her spam folder, but there was this very kind accounts payable at City Hall so she forwarded my message to Mayor.”

Update 5/20/2024: On May 14, an Animal Victory team member attended a city hall meeting. Two news stations were present to film the rally. According to our representative, Mayor Susan Byrd does not care about this situation AT ALL. She will not respond to our emails or the petition. Our representative let us know that Governor Abbott has had meetings with the Journey from Home rescue group, and he has asked the Texas Rangers to investigate. We are told that the Rangers are committed to helping but have not started yet because of other obligations. With regards to food donation for the dogs – Walmart has been donating food, but apparently the food was not being opened and given to the homeless shelter dogs. We have learned that in addition to the one deceased dog found at the shelter, other dead dogs were found in dumpsters on the property. We have learned that a petition was circulated to recall the mayor. This was just announced that the petition received enough signatures on efforts to recall the mayor and now the city has 15 days to confirm all of the signatures and move forward with whatever steps they take.

Update 4/25/2024: Animal Victory sent petition to the Mayor. 

Update 4/21/2024: Animal Victory has asked for repeated requests for an investigation and cannot get a reply. We have reached out to Mayor Susan R. Byrd for assistance.

Update 2/21/2024: Animal Victory sent petition to the Attorney and Sheriff. 

Update 2/16/2024: Animal Victory left a voicemail with Sheriff Joe Lopez’s executive assistant – asking if an arrest has been made in this case and is there an active investigation currently. We are waiting for a call back.