Texas Rangers begin investigating Marlin Animal Control facilities | KWKT

Marlin (FOX 44/KWKT) – The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed to FOX 44 News that Texas Rangers are investigating possible violations at the Marlin Animal Control Facilities.

DPS says the investigation is ongoing and no further information can be released at this time.

FOX 44 News has been tracking the situation at the facilities since early 2024.

Marlin resident Jeffrey Rich was looking for his lost dog at the Marlin Animal Shelter. When he went to look behind him, he found a dead dog lying in the shelter instead of his own dog.

“I was looking for one of my stray dogs, went to the back and lifted the tarp… and that’s when I saw the dead dog,” Rich says.

His discoveries at the Marlin Animal Shelter didn’t end there.

“The dogs were covered in feces, there was no food and no water. The bowls were completely dry. They all looked like they hadn’t been fed for a minute,” he says.

So he posted on Facebook what he had found at the animal shelter – and received support from people across the country.

Since then, many people in the community have been demanding action. In March, a new sign was put up demanding justice for the animals who died at the Marlin Animal Shelter.

It is sponsored by Journey Home Rescue – a rescue facility that has taken in many of the sick and malnourished dogs from the Marlin Animal Shelter. The advocacy group “Justice for the Marlin Dogs” can be found on Facebook and has a page that advocates for the prosecution of the abused dogs.

In April, a group of Marlin residents put together a petition to unseat Marlin Mayor Susan Byrd. The Facebook group “Justice For Marlin Dogs” is organizing the effort.