More than 100 animals were seized from We Care Wildlife, a nonprofit sanctuary in Lakehills, Bandera County, Texas, after a joint investigation uncovered starving, neglected animals alongside around 20 dead ones in various states of decomposition. Officials from the American Humane Society, San Antonio Zoo and local authorities executed a search warrant on 4 September and described conditions as depriving animals of basic necessities such as food, clean water and proper care, leaving many, including horses, dangerously emaciated. The case highlights serious animal welfare failings at a facility meant to provide sanctuary and has since become the subject of a court hearing.

During the raid, responders found more than 15 dead horses and two dead primates, including a monkey recovered from a freezer that showed lacerations, missing teeth and signs of extreme emaciation. A veterinarian who examined the site testified to further grim findings, including tortoises with cracked shells, a featherless peacock, faecal-contaminated water containers and a cage holding a parrot's remains. Sanctuary owner Armando Mendez disputes the characterisation, claiming most seized animals were tortoises, turtles and chickens, alleging the raid was staged to damage his reputation ahead of a jury trial, and stating that unearthed remains resulted from earlier burials disturbed by July flooding; he and his legal team did not attend this week's hearing, and the investigation continues.