Lakehills, Texas – On Labor Day weekend, Bandera County Precinct 2 Constable Greg Spengler led a raid on the We Care Wildlife Sanctuary, located on Park Road 37. The operation began around 7 a.m. and involved the American Humane Society, San Antonio Zoo veterinary staff, and volunteer veterinarians.
Authorities reported seizing more than 100 animals, including roughly 15 horses, two primates, and a large number of tortoises, turtles and chickens. They also discovered more than 20 dead animals on the property, which were sent to a veterinary forensics lab for necropsies.
Owner calls the seizure a vindictive “setup”
Armando Mendez, president and CEO of the sanctuary, told KSAT 12 that he believes the raid was timed to harm his reputation ahead of an upcoming jury trial related to a 2023 settlement. He said, “Out of the 105 animals that they took, 85 of the animals were solely tortoises, turtles and chickens. I believe that they came in and took the larger, high‑volume, high‑dollar animals. And then to make my numbers look higher, they grabbed a bunch of chickens and turkeys.”
Mendez also disputed the claim that the dead animals were the result of cruelty. He explained that the remains belonged to pets and sanctuary animals that died naturally over the sanctuary’s seven‑year history and were buried on the grounds. “If you’ve ever buried a goldfish or a hamster or a cat or a dog in your backyard and put a little tombstone on it, that would be no different than what I did,” he said.
Questions about the warrant and handling of the animals
The sanctuary owner alleges he was not handed a seizure warrant for roughly an hour and a half while animals were already being loaded onto trailers. When he asked Constable Spengler about the missing document, he was told, “We don’t have one now, but you’ll get it.” Mendez added that his daughter captured video of an officer telling a colleague to take the mini goats because they “make pretty babies.”
Mendez says this is not the first raid on his sanctuary. He recalled a previous seizure over the July 4 weekend that also preceded a court date, after which the animals were returned to him. He believes the current action follows the same pattern, aiming to “poison the community” and sway public opinion before his trial.
Legal process and next steps
Under Texas law, a hearing must be held within ten days of the warrant to determine whether cruelty was a factor and to decide the fate of the seized animals. The hearing is scheduled for September 14, though the date could change.
KSAT 12 reached out to the Bandera County constable’s office multiple times for comment, but the office has not responded at the time of publication.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between wildlife‑care facilities and local law‑enforcement agencies, especially when legal disputes are involved. Community members and animal‑rights advocates are watching the upcoming hearing closely to see how the case will be resolved.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
