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County approves microchip clinic and backs Border Animal Mission transport site pending county attorney review
Summary
Val Verde County approved a July 4 free microchip clinic and voted to support Border Animal Mission’s proposed temporary holding/transport site on county property pending county attorney review and an MOU; the group said it will prepare roughly 70 animals for transport out of the area.
The Val Verde County Commissioners Court voted to allow Border Animal Mission to use a county facility for a free microchipping clinic on July 4 and gave conditional support to the group’s proposal for a temporary five‑acre transport/holding site on county animal control property.
Jessica Halperin, co‑founder and director of Border Animal Mission, told the court the microchip clinic is free to pet owners (donations accepted) and that the organization handled 108 microchips at an earlier event; she estimated capacity for the July 4 clinic could be roughly double that. The court unanimously approved use of the Tony Fazio County Annex for the clinic.
Halperin also described a proposed "Freedom Village" to serve only as a short‑term holding and medical/transport staging area (not a public adoption center). She said the site would be fenced, staffed by BAM volunteers and county animal control during use, and used to prepare animals (spay/neuter and medical) for transport on flights planned from Del Rio to adoption partners in the Northeast. The group indicated about 70 animals were scheduled for transport at the end of June; the proposed site would serve as a staging point for similar operations.
The court voted to approve support for the project contingent on review by the county attorney and execution of an MOU. Commissioners noted the MOU and liability details will be reviewed and that any additional approvals or agreements would return to court as needed.
Why it matters: The approvals make it easier for the local nonprofit to operate low‑cost services for pet owners and to move animals to areas with higher adoption capacity, which county and nonprofit leaders said will reduce strain on animal control shelters.
Next steps: The county attorney will review the MOU and the court will return the item for final approval of any agreement; the county will coordinate with animal control staff and the nonprofit to ensure operational and liability issues are addressed.
All quotes and attributions are drawn from the meeting transcript and tied to speakers who spoke on the record.
