Vela Middle School students had the opportunity to learn about the operations of the Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center (BARCC) through an educational presentation. 

This type of outreach is important for raising awareness about responsible pet ownership and the vital role that animal control officers play in a community.

 Michelle D. Garcia, the principal at Vela Middle School, accepted an invitation from BARCC to have their representatives make a presentation to students. The focus of the presentation was on the importance of having pets and taking proper care of them.

Principal Garcia emphasized that when you have an animal, they become a part of your family. Therefore, it's crucial to know how to care for them, including understanding their vaccination needs and ensuring their well-being.

“Having an animal, they become part of your family. So it’s very important to know how to take care of them, what are the vaccines that they need and to make sure they are well taken care of. They are very important and they are becoming a big part of everyone’s family,” Garcia said.

BARCC members discussed the various duties of animal control officers, which involve enforcing state laws and city ordinances related to animals. These duties include picking up stray or aggressive animals, investigating cases of animal cruelty and animal bites, returning lost animals to their owners, testifying in court, writing detailed reports, educating the public on animal care and pet ownership requirements, and handling deceased animals.

Dr. Antonio Caldwell, Deputy Director of Animal Service for the City of Brownsville, mentioned that this collaboration with the Brownsville Independent School District was the first of its kind, where BARCC worked to educate students about the services the shelter provides to the city.

This educational presentation provided valuable insights to the students about the responsibilities associated with pet ownership and the essential services that BARCC and animal control officers provide to ensure the well-being of both animals and the community. 

 (Photo Courtesy: BISD)