A Dozen Dogs Abandoned By Arrested Owner Leads to SPCA Rescue

DALLAS, TX — The SPCA of Texas has removed a dozen dogs from a trailer on a property in Van Zandt County. The dogs have now been transported to the SPCA of Texas' Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center, where they'll be examined by medical staff and cared for until they're ready for adoption or placement on a case by case basis.

The dogs were discovered in a filthy mobile home filled with feces, urine and other debris. The dogs had access to neither food nor water, and appeared to have been without resources for several days.

In addition, rescuers from the SPCA of Texas measured the ammonia level inside of the residence to be 215 parts per million (ppm). As a point of reference, short term exposure to any ammonia level over 20 ppm or long term exposure to any level over 12 ppm can cause health problems in humans.

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Each of the animals is suffering from a variety of health concerns, including hair loss, flea infestation, unclipped nails, and several appeared to be severely undernourished as well, as they appeared emaciated with both their hips and spines visible through their skin and fur.

The SPCA of Texas was referred the case by the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office last Friday.

The animals' owner was arrested on June 6, 2021, and had made no arrangements for the care of the animals. On Friday — nearly a week later — the Sheriff's Office was alerted of the animals located at the residence of the owner, and then immediately notified the SPCA of Texas.

SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigators visited the property on Saturday and provided the animals with food and water. The SPCA then made arrangements for a neighbor to assist the following day and gathered the necessary resources needed to remove all of the animals.

On Monday, SPCA investigators visited the animals' owner in jail and he agreed to sign custody of the animals over to the SPCA immediately. Criminal charges are expected to be filed against him.

For more information on the SPCA of Texas, please visit www.spca.org. To support the SPCA of Texas and its efforts to rescue, heal and find homes for animals, please visit www.spca.org/give.

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