responsibility of apprehending wanted individuals.
Each of these divisions is staffed by deputies handpicked
by Sheriff Fowler because of their special
training and abilities.
FIRE PROTECTION
Emergency
Service Districts
(ESDs) are the
primary source
of fire protection
for many of
the towns and
unincorporated
areas of East Parker
County. The ESDs
are funded by
their own property
taxes. Parker
County ESD 1 is
a dynamic paid/
volunteer combination organization providing Fire
Suppression/Prevention/ and Rescue, operating out
of 7 stations protecting over 50,000 residents in
four incorporated cities and across 265 square miles
of unincorporated Parker County, including the
communities of Aledo, Springtown, Peaster, LaJunta,
Silver Creek, and the Annetta’s. ESD 1 responds to
over 3300 calls annually while providing automatic/
mutual aid across Parker County and portions of
Tarrant, Wise, and Johnson Counties.
Parker County ESD #3 takes care of the
firefighting services for the City of Hudson Oaks,
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. The Willow Park
Fire/Rescue Department now has a full-time staff
supported by a dedicated group of volunteers who
are dedicated to serving the citizens of Willow Park.
Parker County ESD #6 covers approximately
149 square miles in southern Parker county. They
answer fire and rescue related calls for service along
with their partner department Cresson Volunteer Fire
Department. They are a licensed First Responder
Organization through the Texas Department of State
Health Services and answer medical calls. Parker
County ESD #6 has the distinction of being one of
only 2 Advanced Life Support First Responders in
Parker County.
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 as well as services
for the cities of Aledo, Willow Park and Hudson
Oaks. 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: VANDAGRIFF/ALEDO FIRE DEPARTMENT
PHOTO CREDIT: KUBENA INSURANCE
www.EastParkerChamber.com 81