SPCA of Texas Awarded Custody of 184 Animals Seized from Dallas County Property
Friday, October 23, 2009
By: Jaklin Kaden

(DALLAS COUNTY, TX); October 23, 2009--Dallas County Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2-1 Gerry Cooper awarded custody of 184 chickens and pigeons seized from a Sunnyvale property on October 6 to the SPCA of Texas in a hearing today at the Dallas County JP, Pct. 2 Courthouse. Additionally, Judge Cooper awarded $12,000 in restitution to the SPCA of Texas.

"We are dealing with a consistent and systematic pattern of neglect of reasonable care." said District Attorney Marty Scott in closing arguments Friday afternoon.

Vice President of Operations, Ann Barnes said, "The judge determined the 184 animals were cruelly treated and will remain in the custody of the SPCA of Texas.  I hope that the other animals that are returned continue to receive the care that the SPCA of Texas has provided."

At the time of the seizure, most of the birds were emaciated.

Under the authority of the Dallas County Constable, the SPCA of Texas seized 386 animals, most of which are fowl and livestock, on Tuesday, October 6 from 3602 N. Belt Line Rd. in Sunnyvale, TX. A majority of the animals were cruelly confined. The living conditions of the majority of the animals were deplorable and was considered cruel confinement.  The SPCA of Texas will transport the remaining animals to the 3602 N. Belt Line Rd. address in the coming days.

To download photos taken the day of the seizure, please visit www.spca.org/livestockrescue.

Acting on multiple complaints, the SPCA of Texas has worked with the animals' owner to help them comply with Texas State Health and Safety Code regarding these animals many times. After several attempts to help the animals' owner come into compliance with code, the SPCA of Texas agreed with the Dallas County Constable that immediate action was needed to remove these animals from conditions including cruel confinement and lack of/contamination of food and water.

SPCA of Texas vehicles transported the animals to the SPCA of Texas' Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney, TX where they have been cared for since the seizure on October 6, 2009.

The custody hearing began on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. at the Dallas County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Courthouse and continued on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 9 a.m.

The SPCA of Texas will now begin the process of individually evaluating the 184 birds for placement or adoption on a case by case basis.

The SPCA of Texas encourages the public to consider adopting livestock animals currently available for adoption if now is the right time to add a new family member. To view all livestock (and other pets) currently up for adoption at the SPCA of Texas, visit www.spca.org/findapet.

Those who are interested in livestock adoptions through the SPCA of Texas may visit www.spca.org/livestock at their convenience to complete an application to begin the adoption process. It is not necessary to have already picked out a livestock animal to adopt to begin the process.

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 inDallas 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.