Written by Amanda Coers – The Brown County Commissioners’ Court met at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 20th, at the Brown County Courthouse. On the agenda for the court’s consideration was a request for permission to add exotic animals currently banned in Brown County from W&W Zoo owner and operator, Rusty Waddell.
Judge Ray West addressed Mr. Waddell saying, “The Commissioners’ Court some years ago adopted the state rules concerning exotic animals, and ownership. Are you familiar with the state rules?”
Waddell replied he was aware of the state rules regarding ownership of exotic animals and informed the court he had been operating zoos for 28 years. Mr. Waddell also informed the court he possessed licensing from the USDA and Texas Parks and Wildlife.
“I’m licensed to the hilt,” Waddell said. W&W Zoo is located at 9475 HWY 183 N. in Early. Currently the zoo features pot-bellied pigs, zebras, camels, small monkeys, lemurs, as well as goats, chickens, rabbits, and other more common animals.
Mr. Waddell is hoping to add an occasional “baby tiger” attraction to his zoo, as well as a pair of Olive Baboons.
“The law allows that a county may adopt the state rules, or more stringent rules,” Judge West said. “But the county can’t adopt less stringent rules. If you have a state license for your animals, then we’re good.”
In the state of Texas “a person may not own, harbor or have custody or control of a dangerous wild animal for any purpose unless the person holds a certificate of registration for that animal issued by an animal registration agency,” according to the Texas Health and Safety Code. “Animal registration agency” means the municipal or county animal control office with authority over the area where a dangerous wild animal is kept or a county sheriff in an area that does not have an animal control office. The subchapter does not require a municipality that does not have an animal control office to create that office.
“Dangerous wild animals” include lions, tigers, ocelots, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, bobcats, lynx, servals, caracals, hyenas, bears, coyotes, jackals, baboons, chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas or any hybrids of the listed animals.
“What we’re going to have to do is take another run at this, I think there’s more to do than we can do today,” Judge West told Waddell. The agenda item was tabled until a later date. Judge West also asked to speak with Rusty Waddell regarding the matter in his office after court was adjourned.
