Waller County Commissioners have delayed a vote on a plan this week that could have enacted a long-proposed county wide animal control program.

The County Commissioners were set to meet  April 1 to finally vote on a plan put forth by Pct. 2 Commissioner Terry Harrison, who has long been at the forefront in the effort to bring animal control to a county that has no laws governing stray animals.

“Waller County does not have one ordinance,” Harrison said. “No judicial ruling or law enforcement (officer) can give support to someone who needs it.”

Last week Harrison presented the plan during a workshop of the Commissioner’s Court and other county leaders ahead of the April 1 vote.

However, Harrison said Monday that officials with the City of Hempstead wanted clarification on certain definitions in the plan and that another workshop would need to be scheduled ahead of another commissioner's meeting.

The plan proposed by Harrison would create the position of an Animal Control Officer (ACO) in the county. According to Harrison, Prairie View veterinarian Don Jones is the likely choice to serve as ACO.

“He is qualified, has certifications, has extensive training and knows the laws,” Harrison said.

The role of an ACO, the plan states, is to be certified by the Texas Animal Control Association, as well as in Animal Law and euthanasia. The ACO should also be able to “identify the difference between a dog that is aggressive and one that is just scared and hungry,” the report states. He should also have the ability to “recognize the difference between a pet that is lost and a stray, as well as evaluate animals to determine if they are potentially adoptable.”

According to Harrison, the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) plans to utilize federal Hurricane Ike relief money to build a structure near Jones’ office to be used as a shelter for animals during a natural disaster.

Harrison’s plan calls for the ability to use the ORCA building as a county shelter for animals, as well as a proposed Waller County Humane Society facility.

Harrison explained that the proposed plan is not designed to be an animal registration or an “out to get you” program, but one to protect and educate citizens.

“We are not making up new rules,” he told the commission. “We simply need to enforce the guidelines established by the state in our country, and with the cities in Waller County.”

The new plan would carry an annual budget of approximately $115,000. Harrison said that amount could be funded in part by grants, fundraisers and donations. Otherwise, the plan would be paid for out of the county’s General Fund.

“If it costs the county 50 percent (of the total proposed amount), I’d be surprised,” he said.

The county commissioners will meet April 1 at 9 a.m. at the Waller County Courthouse, located at 936 Austin Street in Hempstead, to vote on the proposed law.

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