Captain Greg Thomason with Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constables Office has been an animal lover his entire life. He was a former Harris County Precinct 4 K-9 Officer for 14-years before coming to Montgomery County in 2016. He saw the need in Montgomery County for an animal cruelty unit after seeing the non-livestock animals being dumped, starved, and not cared for. He decided to go to Montgomery County Commissioners this week during the budget hearings to ask for funding for such a unit. However, to show that the unit would have the support he and several others organized an event last weekend at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds called, “MoCo’s Law Furr Paws Fest”. The fest included bands featuring Sundance Head, and Jack Ingram. An AR-15 signed by Marcus Luttrell, “The Lone Survivor” was auctioned off along with several signed guitars. Montgomery County Animal Shelter had a shelters transport truck with many adoptable dogs. Another big event was the car show. Several sponsors from around Montgomery County also helped such as Barsh Performance Diesel, Gulf Coast Fiber, Magnolia Veterinary Hospital, Spirit of Texas Bank, and many more who also saw the need in Montgomery County. Thomason went into Commissioners Court asking for one officer to start the unit. Commissioners had just given Constable Cash ten Mental Health Officers and now another Constable wanting additional manpower. Thomason talked about how everyone has been affected by COVID but the animals have never been considered. Animal abuse has increased with more people home and not working. He told Commissioners these cases have been under-investigated and needs to be addressed. He stated that in 2017 the FBI took the category of other and made it its own category in its National Incident Reporting System. Thomason said, “if it was important enough for them to report it, why is it not important enough for us to investigate it”. Thomason said that in 2018 FBI put out an article calling animal cruelty is a gateway crime. Serial killers, rapists started out with animal cruelty in their past. As it stands now if Animal Control comes upon an animal cruelty case they call dispatch and the next unit is sent out. A report is made but seldom a follow-up. For a period of 2015-2020, there were over 7600 calls to Animal Cruelty, of these 1500 of them were in 2020. According to Montgomery County arrest records since 2012 there have been only 43 arrests for animal cruelty. This included neglect, cruelty, and abandonment. Some of these cases once Animal Control arrived were unfounded or evidence did not support an investigation. Reports come in at times of organized dog fights in Montgomery County. To go along with this other crimes are usually combined including narcotics and gambling including the cruelty to the animal. Thomason asked for four full-time investigators and one supervisor dedicated to animal cruelty. In addition an administrative clerk and the training and certifications. Thomason told Commissioners of the Community Event where over $50,000 was raised to help offset the expense to the county for the startup of the unit. Not only did it bring in money but bringing awareness to the community due to its exposure. Commissioner Noack agreed that Animal Control had no enforcement power but the need was there for enforcement. Thomason now has six open cases that were given to him from Animal Control. These are from locations around the county including the dog shot by the arrow in Precinct 3. The cost for each investigator would be $133, 332. This includes salary, FICA, benefits, retirement, state unemployment, and equipment minus a vehicle. Of that $63,107.20 would be the salary of each investigator. Commissioners discussed the aspect of Precinct 2 Constables taking over Animal Control and making it one unit. However, after sleeping on it Wednesday night and talking with Animal Control of Thursday during the budget process of the shelter, and Animal Control commissioners arrived at a decision. Instead of creating the positions and adding to the budget, Commissioner Walker agreed to fund 1.5 of an investigator from his budget. In addition, Commissioner Riley said he with cover the cost of .5 of an investigator from his budget. With that, Montgomery County now officially has an Animal Cruelty Unit. it wasn’t all that Thomason had asked for but it was a start in the right direction.
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