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

Published: January 25, 2024 at 01:39 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.

News:

KWTX News

KCENTV

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.