which has the responsibility of
apprehending wanted individuals.
Each of these divisions is staffed
by deputies hand-picked by
Sheriff Fowler because of their
special training and abilities.
FIRE PROTECTION
Volunteer fire departments
have serviced Parker County
residents for decades, directed
by professional staff, individual
VFD fire chiefs and County
Fire Marshall Kurt Harris.
Hundreds of trained volunteers
respond to fires, accidents and
natural disasters. Gradually these
volunteer fire departments have
been replaced by Emergency
Service Districts. The ESDs are
funded by their own property
taxes. Parker County ESD #3
takes care of the firefighting
services for the City of Hudson
Oaks, Annetta, Annetta North
and several square miles of
unincorporated East Parker
County territory. The district
took delivery of a new pumper/
tanker truck in 2016 to better
protect the residents that it serves.
ESD #1 protects
approximately 51,000 residents
spanning across 265 square miles
of Parker County, including the
Cities of Aledo, Springtown,
Annetta, and Annetta South.
Responding to over 3,200 calls
annually, operating out of 5
stations, District 1 staffs 15
firefighter and command staff
personnel per day, with almost
100 volunteer firefighters on call
across the district to augment
response. The Willow Park Fire/
Rescue Department now has
a full-time staff but still has a
dedicated group of volunteers
who are still dedicated to serving
the citizens of Willow Park.
ANIMAL CONTROL
Animal control for Parker County
is handled by the Weatherford/
Parker County Animal Shelter.
This cooperative agreement began
in 2000 and the shelter serves
the City of Weatherford and
the unincorporated area of the
County. The Weatherford/Parker
County Animal Shelter provides a
healthy and friendly environment
for animals to find forever homes.
All animals are provided with
rabies vaccinations, parvo shots
and are spayed or neutered before
adoption. The shelter coordinates
with Fort Worth Animal Care
and Control, which supplies
animals to various PetSmart
locations to increase the live
release rates of the shelter. The
shelter has received numerous
“excellent” ratings from the Texas
Department of State Health
Services and the Texas Animal
Control and Welfare Agency. The
shelter is located at 403 Hickory
Lane in Weatherford.
“Last year we ended up with
a 94.4 percent live release rate
and we are super proud of that,”
said Dustin Deel, Director of
Animal Services. “Planning is
underway for improvements
at the shelter that include a
medical and surgical center to
make spay and neutering more
efficient, an isolation area for sick
or contagious animals as well as
general renovations to improve
the shelter’s ability to care for the
animals that are brought to them.
The shelter strives to be a place of
second chances, along with being
a resource for the community.” n
PHOTO CREDIT: WALSH
PHOTO CREDIT: MEGAN PARKS PHOTOGRAPHY
www.EastParkerChamber.com 79