SPCA of Texas Awarded Custody of 25 Neglected Dogs, Three Neglected Cats,One Starving Horse and One Starving Mule
Thursday, October 22, 2009
By: Maura Davies

(CANTON, TX); October 22, 2009--At two hearings yesterday afternoon, Van Zandt County, Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Ronnie L. Daniell awarded custody of 25 dogs, three cats, one horse and one mule to the SPCA of Texas.

Under the authority of the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department, the SPCA of Texas seized two horses and one mule on Tuesday, October 20, from two properties in Wills Point, TX and Canton, TX in Van Zandt County. According to law enforcement officials, the animal owner is facing charges of animal cruelty.

The horses and mule did not have access to appropriate food and water. One deceased horse was also found on one of the properties. The animals are all extremely underweight to the point that their rib, hip and spine bones are prominently showing.

The judge awarded the SPCA of Texas custody of one horse and one mule as well as restitution in the amount of $1,222.50. Additionally, the judge ordered that a second horse seized yesterday be returned to the rightful owner from whom it had been previously stolen by unknown indivudual(s).

"I am going to award the mule and the other horse to the SPCA of Texas," said Judge Daniell. "Once (they are) in good health and able to be adopted out, (they) shall be."

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Under the authority of the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department, the SPCA of Texas seized 25 dogs and 3 cats that have been neglected by their owner on Friday, October 16, from a property in Van Zandt County. According to law enforcement officials, the owner will face criminal animal cruelty charges.

Most of the animals appeared to suffering from various medical issues. At least half of the dogs are underweight, two dogs are emaciated, all of the animals were infested with fleas, some have hair loss and one dog appears to have a severe leg injury.

Acting at the request of the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department, an SPCA of Texas Humane Investigator visited the property in question and began working with the owner to bring them into compliance with Texas Health and Safety Code. When the SPCA of Texas Humane Investigator returned to follow up almost a month later, nothing on the compliance agreement had been met. The SPCA of Texas agreed with the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department that the animals' conditions had deteriorated and that immediate action was needed.

The judge awarded custody of the 25 dogs and 3 cats to the SPCA of Texas.

"You are not financially nor physically able to maintain this many animals. I have no doubt that you love them, but you can't take care of them," Judge Daniell said to the animal owner at the hearing. "This is abuse. If it had been a child that had been abused in this manner, CPS would have them without a doubt. I'm going to do for your animals just like they were children. I'm saying you can't take care of them." 

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The SPCA of Texas will now begin the process of individually evaluating the animals for potential adoption or placement on a case by case basis.

To help the SPCA of Texas fund future rescues like this and to support the SPCA of Texas' other programs and services, please visit www.spca.org/helptheanimals. To learn more about the SPCA of Texas, please visit our website at www.spca.org/.

The SPCA of Texas is the leading animal welfare agency in North Texas with two shelters and two spay/neuter clinics located in Dallas and McKinney, and serves as an active resource center providing an array of programs and services that bring people and animals together to enrich each others' lives. A comprehensive animal welfare agency, the SPCA of Texas is not affiliated with any other entity and does not receive general operating funds from the City of Dallas, State of Texas, federal government or any other humane organization.