SPCA Seizes Animals At Two Local Homes

A team from the SPCA of Texas was accompanied by Constable Ken Layton on Friday at two animal seizures in south Hunt County.

Maura Davies, senior director of communications for the organization, told The News that concerned citizens had contacted the SPCA of Texas about the cases.

Davies said, "SPCA of Texas investigators worked with both owners separately, providing education on how to properly care for animals. After subsequent trips without acceptable improvement to the animals’ conditions, the SPCA of Texas contacted the Hunt County Constable. After reviewing the cases, the constable concurred with the SPCA of Texas’ investigations that it was in the animals’ best interest to obtain warrants and remove the animals from the two properties."

She said that in one case, eight dogs were suffering from neglect. In the other case, she said five dogs and seven cats were suffering from neglect.

SPCA of Texas vehicles took the animals to the Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney where they were to be examined by medical staff and cared for until custody hearings.

Layton said the hearings were to have been held Thursday, May 14, at 1 p.m. in the court of Justice of the Peace Hershey Barnett. He said the hearings would determine whether the animals had been cruelly treated, and any charges would be pending those hearings.

Davies said, "The eight neglected dogs on the first property — all German Shepherds — have extreme hair loss and exhibit signs of severely infected skin. One of the dogs is emaciated and is still nursing six-month-old puppies. Many of these dogs had scratched themselves to the point of causing open, weeping sores on much of their bodies."

The animals were taken at the seizure conducted on Private Road 3800 off FM 751.

On the second property on Seagrove in West Tawakoni, Davies said, "The five dogs and seven cats were also suffering from neglect. The inside of the house registered five parts per million of ammonia. For reference, long-term exposure to this level of ammonia has been known to cause health problems in humans. All of the animals are severely infested with fleas and two of the dogs, both possibly Shar Pei mixes, have extreme hair loss. The exact health conditions of the rest of the animals on this second property — seven cats, two Rat Terriers and one Papillon — are unknown at this time. The SPCA of Texas will know more once all of the animals are evaluated by medical staff."

Davies said if the SPCA of Texas was awarded custody of the animals at the hearings, the animals would be individually evaluated for potential adoption or placement on a case-by-case basis.

She said state law provided protection for animals in three ways — from abuse, neglect and killing — and provided penalties for anyone who committed any of those offenses.

Davies said, "The SPCA of Texas is able to look into cases only because people reach out to us and let us know when an animal is in danger." She said the organization had no legal authority and always elicited the aid of law enforcement in their work.

The Dallas headquarters serves an 11-county area including Hunt County at shelters in Dallas and McKinney. Davies said the animals seized here would be taken to McKinney.

Davies said the public could help the organization by contacting it with any information as well as donations. For information click on www.spca.org/helptheanimals. To learn more about the SPCA of Texas, click on www.spca.org/.