Levelland Animal Control presence returns after hires

  • FIRST BABY OF 2023! - The first baby born in 2023 at the Covenant Hospital of Levelland was a little girl named Fallon Crispin. Born on January 2 at 7:59 a.m., Fallon weighed eight pounds and 13 ounces and was measured at 21.5 inches. Pictured is Fallon’s mother D’Kota Walls and father is Colby Crispin. Also pictured is Memphis who is now a big brother at one-years-old. When deciding the newborns name, the parents chose to go a name that is more bold and unusual. (Photo Courtesy of Meredith Cunningham)
    FIRST BABY OF 2023! - The first baby born in 2023 at the Covenant Hospital of Levelland was a little girl named Fallon Crispin. Born on January 2 at 7:59 a.m., Fallon weighed eight pounds and 13 ounces and was measured at 21.5 inches. Pictured is Fallon’s mother D’Kota Walls and father is Colby Crispin. Also pictured is Memphis who is now a big brother at one-years-old. When deciding the newborns name, the parents chose to go a name that is more bold and unusual. (Photo Courtesy of Meredith Cunningham)

    Citizens could be seeing the Levelland Animal Catrol roaming the streets of the Levelland community by the end of next week.

    Levelland Police Department Captain Tammie McDonald gave a brief update on the current search for two new Animal Control Officers.

    McDonald explained that it has been a difficult process to even begin the search for two new ASO’s after the October 13, on-duty crash that claimed the lives of Animal Control Officer’s Crystal Goforth who was killed on impact and Jon Corder who passed away at University Medical Center in Lubbock due to severe injuries.

    McDonald added that even though both Goforth and Corder were under her but not in the same department, they both were considered family from a work and personal perspective. Taking pride in having a familylike bond, McDonald added it was important to take a bit of time to grieve.

    Making the decision to advertise for the two ASO positions after the Thanksgiving holiday, McDonald understands that is has been a difficult time for the community of Levelland with the lack of animal control presence.

    She explained that the animal shelter staff was essentially cut down to one person and the individual had more experience in the shelter than the streets.

    While the Levelland Police Department has been trying to balance regular duties and assisting with animal control calls, McDonald explained that the officers are not equipped with the proper training to handle animal control calls properly, which puts the officers and animals at risk of injury and harm.

    McDonald added that two candidates have gone through the preliminary process to be considered for the positions and should be expected to fill the vacant positions by the middle of next week.

    Before, one position was considered full-time and the other part-time, but McDonald added that both positions would be fulltime.

    Additionally, the captain explained that between the training process and ensuring the safety for all employees and animals comes first. With that, training will require time.

    All three positions will have to understand and be able to handle the shelter portion of the job as well as the street training.