At the end of the session, Wade was directed to reduce to writing the animal shelter’s operating policies, proceedures and protocols within 30 days, according to Gayle Wilhelm, a spokesman for Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald. Wade has been in charge of the county’s animal control and shelter department since it was created. Previously she was the animal control officer for the City of Bastrop.

At a commissioners meeting last month some animal welfare activists publicly called for Wade to be replaced and new leadership installed. Critics charged the department with a series of mistakes, lapses and blunders, some of which resulted in unnecessary animal suffering and death, dating back to 2002.

Subsequently, Bastrop County Auditor Lisa Smith told Bastrop-News.com that all private donations to the operation for animal care were properly accounted for. At the same time some fiscal controls were also tightened, said Smith.