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Commissioners designate county‑held horses as surplus, allowing auction or donation
Summary
The court designated two horses held by the sheriff’s office as surplus property, authorizing the sheriff to auction or donate them; commissioners stressed the county can still seek therapeutic placements before disposal.
Randall County Commissioners Court designated two horses held by the sheriff’s office as surplus May 13, clearing the way for the sheriff to auction or donate the animals if a suitable placement is not found.
Sheriff’s office staff told the court the horses came into the office’s custody about five years ago after owners could not be located. The sheriff’s office has been caring for the animals and attempted to locate owners without success. Staff said they had been approached by equine therapy programs previously, but those programs were not able to accept the horses at that time.
Commissioners made clear that designating the animals as surplus does not obligate the county to auction them immediately. "Once it's designated surplus, it makes it much easier to dispose of it. But once it's designated surplus, it makes it much easier to dispose of it," one commissioner said. The motion the court adopted designates the animals surplus and permits auction or donation to appropriate agencies if a suitable home is not found.
Why it matters: The action permits the sheriff’s office to divest animals that have been in county custody without identifiable owners and gives officials flexibility to find therapeutic or donation placements rather than automatically proceeding to auction.
The court approved the designation 5–0. The sheriff’s office will continue efforts to locate agencies or programs that could accept the animals and may auction them if no suitable placement is identified.
