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Laredo staff seek to formalize multi-agency task force and MOU for cruelty investigations
Summary
Committee members asked staff to revive and formalize a multi-agency memorandum of understanding to coordinate animal cruelty investigations among city animal-care staff, the DA's office, county agencies, sheriff's office and state wildlife representatives.
Miss Martinez introduced a review of how the City of Laredo and Webb County should work together on animal-cruelty cases and recommended revisiting a previous memorandum of understanding (MOU) that pooled investigative resources. An Animal Care Services representative told the committee the original MOU was productive but had lapsed during the COVID period as participants moved on, and recommended drafting a fresh agreement to restate responsibilities and reporting.
Staff said the multi-agency approach would include the city—s animal-care department, the Webb County sheriff's office, county constables where appropriate, the district attorney's office and state wildlife officials for incidents involving wild animals. The representative said the task force helps address not only criminal cruelty cases but also other complex animal issues such as feral hogs or mountain lion reports.
The representative noted limits on city jurisdiction and funding when incidents occur outside city limits and said MOUs and city-manager-level agreements would be required for the city to provide services beyond municipal boundaries. The committee asked staff to formalize staffing protocols, reporting expectations and to return with a proposed MOU draft and a plan for monthly or regular status updates to the committee.
