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Law and Paws tells commissioners proposed park work would block its only access; county offers 30-day negotiation window
Summary
Founder Vanessa Costa told the court that a proposed memorandum of understanding and a park project would block Law and Paws'' only entrance; county staff said written notice documenting offers of assistance and a 30-day window to reach an agreement will be issued, after which construction would resume.
During public comment on April 20, Vanessa Costa, founder and president of Law and Paws animal rescue, told the commissioner's court she had received a proposed memorandum of understanding from county staff that she did not request and that her rescue does not have the capacity to assume open-ended responsibility for county animals. Costa said the county's linear-park plan on Square Dance would close the rescue's only entrance and create an emergency-safety risk for animals and staff unless alternate access is preserved.
"This proposed agreement would require us to take additional county dogs, assume full financial responsibility for them, potentially for months or even years without any financial support," Costa said. "Closing our sole point of entry creates a serious safety hazard."
Patricia Hernandez and other public commenters backed the rescue's request, urged enforcement action on abandoned-animal sources, and described the group's current limits on space and funding.
County staff briefed the court on an outreach timeline: county public-works staff contacted the shelter owner in 2025 and approved a change order during construction to maintain access; county officials offered technical support, equipment, medical services and temporary housing for up to 30 animals in a December 2025 offer that remained unsigned. County staff said they will send formal written notice documenting the offers and open a 30-day period for a final agreement. If no agreement is reached within 30 days, staff said construction would resume to complete the linear-park improvements.
Why it matters: The dispute raises immediate safety, access and liability questions for a private rescue that houses hundreds of animals while the county completes a voter-approved park project. The county characterized the step as continued good-faith outreach and set a near-term procedural deadline to resolve access or resume construction.
Next steps: County administration will deliver formal notice and attempt to negotiate within the 30-day window. The court earlier moved related contract negotiations into closed session; staff said any signed memorandum or material contract would be returned to the court for approval.
