VAN ZANDT COUNTY — (GRAND SALINE TX; McKINNEY, TX); August 26, 2011 -- Under the authority of the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department, the SPCA of Texas seized 35 cruelly confined dogs (7 of which are puppies) and one bird this morning from a Grand Saline, TX property. The animals were being housed in a feces-filled, urine-soaked trailer on the property and in a small, filthy outdoor pen, and are not receiving proper food, water or care.

All of the dogs appear to be small mixed breeds, and most of them suffer from hair loss, eye discharge, flea infestation and extremely long nails. The bird, a Lovebird, was living in a filthy, roach infested cage and had feather loss and crusty skin. The SPCA of Texas will know more about their conditions after the animals are evaluated by the medical staff.

Five small, mixed breed dogs were being housed in a 10' by 10' outdoor pen on the property. These dogs all appeared to have hair loss. The pen was filled with feces and urine, and none of the dogs had access to food or water. Another thirty small, mixed breed dogs were being housed inside the un-air conditioned, single wide trailer on the property. The trailer's wooden floor was soaked in urine and coated with feces. The dogs housed inside the trailer also appeared to be suffering from hair loss. The bird was also housed inside the trailer.

"We have home remedies that we give them, but sometimes thay do get somewhat sick and we don't now how to cure them," said Ethan Scott, son of the animal owners. "Usually its the puppies and they just die, and we bury them in the yard. We have a whole bunch of dogs buried in the yard."

When asked how he felt today, Scott answered, "OK. It had to happen one of these days. It should be better now. We'll save money on dog food now."

The Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department contacted the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to provide support for the Scott family.

The SPCA of Texas and the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department received complaints of animal cruelty at the property on August 20, and a Sheriff's Deputy and an SPCA of Texas Investigator promptly visited the location. Upon discovering the cruel confinement, inadequate food and water and filthy living conditions, the Deputy and the Investigator agreed that the dogs were in need of care. Today, the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department obtained a seizure warrant and the SPCA of Texas transported the dogs to the SPCA of Texas' Perry Animal Care Center at 8411 Stacy Rd. in McKinney,TX, where they will be cared for until the custody hearing.

A custody hearing will be held on Friday, September 2nd at 2 p.m. at the Van Zandt County Pct. 1 Courthouse at 212 Garland St. in Grand Saline, TX, Judge Don Kirkpatrick presiding.

If the SPCA of Texas receives custody of the animals, they will be evaluated for potential adoption of placement on a case by case basis.

To help support the SPCA of Texas and its efforts to help abused, neglected and homeless animals 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.
 

FROM THE SPCA