The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) announced that effective September 1, 2010, the number of agency regional offices has been reduced from eight to seven, to improve efficiency of operations. The Region 8 office which was previously headquartered in Hallettsville has closed. The Region 2 office previously located in Crockett has relocated to Hempstead, which will manage many of the counties previously located in the Crockett and Hallettsville regions. Because of these changes, counties previously located in several other parts of the state have also been shifted to different regional offices to balance workloads.

Contact information for the affected TAHC offices are as follows:

Region 2:

* Hempstead, TX (Crockett office closed) * Phone Number: 1-800-687-8242 or 979-921-9481 * Acting Regional Director: Dr. Mark Michalke * Supervising Inspector: Dwayne Easley * Acquired Counties: Walker, Tyler, Montgomery, Hardin, Orange, Fort Bend, Wharton, Galveston, San Jacinto, Jasper, Harris, Chambers, Waller, Brazoria, Matagorda, Victoria, Polk, Newton, Liberty, Jefferson, Austin, Colorado, Jackson, Calhoun

Region 4:

* Mt. Pleasant, TX * Phone Number: 1-800-658-6560 or 903-572-1966 * Regional Director: Dr. Greg Hawkins * Supervising Inspector: Chip Nicholson * Acquired Counties: Shelby, Sabine, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Angelina, Houston, Trinity

Region 5:

* Beeville, TX Phone Number: 1-800-658-6570 or 361-358-3234 * Regional Director: Dr. James Lenarduzzi * Supervising Inspector: Howard Helmers * Transferred Comal and Guadalupe Counties to Region 7

Region 7:

* Rockdale, TX * Phone Number: 1-800-552-8413 or 512-446-2507 * Regional Director: Dr. Tommy Barton * Supervising Inspector: Russell Iselt * Acquired Counties: Fayette, Gonzales, Lavaca, DeWitt, Guadalupe, Comal * Transferred Waller county to Region 2

Region 8: CLOSED

“Basically, a new coastal region has been created that now includes all of the greater Houston metroplex. For a complete overview regarding the TAHC county and regional office changes, please visit http://www.tahc.state.tx.us or call 1-800-550-8242,” stated Dr. Dee Ellis, TAHC Executive Director.

Founded in 1893, the Texas Animal Health Commission works to protect the health of all Texas livestock, including: cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, equine animals, and exotic livestock.

TAHC regions map for newsrelase 9-1-2010