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Hillsborough Deputies To Unveil Livestock Impound Lot

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 24, 2008

The large red bull was spotted wandering around Keysville Road and State Road 39 last week, so the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was called to pick up the animal and hold it for safekeeping.

It was one of about 100 large animals – mostly horses, cows and pigs along with the occasional water buffalo – the sheriff's office impounds each year. Once, deputies had to house a zebra that escaped from a pen in Riverview.

On Wednesday, the sheriff's office will unveil its new livestock impound lot, on 11 acres at the Walter C. Heinrich Practical Training Center, 14063 S.R. 39 S.

The lot serves as a temporary home to the wayward bull and other misplaced beasts and will be a temporary residence for large animals that need shelter during hurricanes.

The new impound is a vast improvement over the old one, Cpl. Bruce Harrell said.

"It is state of the art," Harrell said. The new lot, he said, has portable panels that can be moved to reconfigure the pens and an automatic watering and feeding system.

"We can handle injured animals and immobilize them," he said.

Included in the 11 acres are 6 acres of fenced-in undeveloped pasture with access to water that will provide unlimited grazing for animals seeking storm shelter, Harrell said.

Though the new facility came on line at the beginning of the month, the grand opening is being timed to coincide with the retirement of Deputy Wayne New, Harrell said.

New, said Harrell, took the project's reins after he was transferred. New is retiring after 30 years on the force.

The project cost about $400,000, according to the sheriff's office, and was paid for with county money.

As for the bull, no one has come forward, and it likely will be sold at auction next week.

The sale price, he said, will just about pay for the cost to house and feed the animal.

Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com.

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