To whom it may concern.
On the evening of December 7th 2007 I obtained a seizure order and seized a total of 66 animals (1 sugar glider, 5 canaries, 9 love birds, 4 cockatiels, 2 doves, 15 ducks, 9 fowl, 2 rabbits, 10 adult dogs and 8 puppies from two litters) from a property in Texas. These animals were all being cruelly treated.
I came to know about this property as I was patrolling the area. I had taken one of our technicians into the field so she could get some field experience. We were headed east on FM *&^* as we passed through the intersection of FM %!& and !@#$ St. I noticed one mixed breed dog on a very short chain and decided to stop to make contact with the owner. We parked in the driveway and I noticed that there were more animals in need on this property than I could see from the street. I knocked on the door attempting to make contact with an owner. After no response I went to the location I had seen the first dog on the chain hoping to untangle him then post a compliance notice. I then noticed that there was a large amount of animals and many violations. After a brief 5 minute look at the property and the condition of the animals I made the decision that a seizure would be in the best interest of these animals. We immediately left the property to seek out a Justice of the Peace, and ready the animal shelter for an influx of animals. At approximately 6:00pm myself, and all available staff from the animal shelter and Sherriff Deputy ^^^$$##$%%^ returned to the property with a seizure order in hand. The owner met me in the driveway and I explained the situation. He was surprised but cooperative. I explained that we would be seizing every animal on the property and asked if he would show me inside the buildings on the property first. I explained that we needed to verify that there were not animals inside the house or other buildings. He agreed to show me the inside of the house and shed neither of which contained any animals. After looking in the house we began to document and photograph these animals and their living conditions. After the arduous task of safely collecting all of these animals our findings are as follows.
The sugar glider is obese and has been fed a very dangerous diet. These animals they require a very specific diet to meet their demanding nutritional needs. The sugar glider was housed in a small cage outside. The water bottle was half full and algae was thriving inside the bottle. The cage was full of peanuts, Brazil nuts, acorns, old tortillas and a rotten piece of a potato that was covered in feces. There was no food inside the cage that was of good nutritional value or even safe to eat. This animal has been deprived of necessary food.
The largest bird cage housed 9 love birds, 2 doves, and 2 cockatiels. The inside of the water bottle provided for these birds was also growing a thick layer of algae. The floor was covered in rotting bird seed and feces. The bird seed provided in the feeders on the side of the cage also were covered in feces. These birds have been cruelly confined, forced to live in unsanitary conditions eating food that bas been defiled and drinking water provided in an algae covered bottle.
The second bird cage housed 5 canaries. These birds have been cruelly confined in unsanitary conditions, eating food that bas been defiled. The floor of this cage is a piece of plywood coated in a layer of feces and spilled bird seed. Both the water and food bowl in this cage has been defiled.
The third and smallest bird cage housed 2 cockatiels. These birds have been cruelly treated due to unsanitary conditions and food and water bowls that have been defiled.
The Ducks, Chickens and Geese have all been cruelly treated. They have all been deprived of necessary food and/or care. These birds were kept inside a fence that surrounds a small pond. No food was found provided inside this fence. The birds found in this area of the property were all underweight. Every duck, chicken or goose that I picked up had a very pronounced breast bone which is indicative of disease, sickness or starvation. These birds are not in a good state of health. They will have to be closely watched to ensure they receive the nutrition they have been lacking while at this property.
The small area underneath the shed was enclosed and turned into a bird cage of sorts. This area was used to contain 3 ducks. There was no food or water provided in this area. The floor was covered in feces. These birds have been unreasonably deprived of necessary food and water. They have also been cruelly confined in unsanitary conditions.
The rabbits were housed in a small metal cage with a piece plywood for a floor. The plywood was covered in a thick layer of feces and urine. They have been cruelly confined by having been kept in such deplorable conditions.
One dog was kept on a short chain at rear of the property next to the owners tire shop as if this was his watchdog. This dog was restrained with a 5 foot chain and provided no food, water or shelter. The chain was wrapped around the pole it attached to leaving the dog with approximately 2 ft of chain to move around with. This method of confinement is unlawful restraint and cruel confinement. This dog has been cruelly treated by having unreasonably deprived it of necessary food, water, care, shelter and use of unlawful restraint. This dog is also underweight, and dehydrated.
Two dogs were kept in a small plywood box. These dogs had no food or water. The floor of the cage was covered in feces. These dogs were cruelly confined and deprived of necessary food and water.
One dog was kept in a metal cage underneath the rabbits. This dog has long hair that is full of mats due to neglect. The cage was full of feces from both the dog inside the cage and the pile of feces from the rabbits above. The feces have been accumulating in this cage long enough for the feces to turn a grayish color and be covered with mold. This dog was not only kept in very unsanitary conditions but was also being deprived of necessary care, water and food. This dog was dehydrated and underweight.
Immediately next to the rabbit's cage there was a cage containing a mother DOG and her 4 Puppies. Inside the cage was a doghouse with a heat lamp for the puppies and a scrap piece of carpet inside the doghouse. The water provided in this cage was a brown color and space amounts of food were available. The floor of this cage was covered with feces that were older than the puppies. The feces was moldy and covering the floor enough that it was impossible to retrieve the puppies without stepping in the piles of feces. The smell of urine in this area was very strong and nauseating to me and my coworkers. These 5 dogs have been deprived of necessary care, food and have been cruelly confined.
The two cages next to the mother and pups contained a total of three dogs. 1in one cage and 2 in the next, both of these cages were covered on feces that had not been cleaned in quite some time. The water bowls were filthy and the food was sparse or nonexistent. These three dogs were underweight and dehydrated. These 3 dogs have been deprived of necessary care, food and have been cruelly confined.
Behind this line of cages was a small pen fashioned out of sheet metal that housed two dogs. The dogs were underweight; the only food in their bowl was what appeared to be rotten table scraps.
The floor was covered in feces. The water was a brownish color. These 2 dogs have been deprived of necessary care, food and have been cruelly confined.
Underneath the house is a storage area that contained one female and her four pups. The pups were in the bottom half of a doghouse with a heat lamp on a scrap of carpet. The area surrounding the doghouse was covered in feces. There was a small amount of water in a bowl. These animals have been housed in unsanitary conditions.
In conclusion, I found none of these 66 animals to be kept in such a manner that the owner was not in violation of the law. These animals have been cruelly treated and kept in either dangerous or cruel confinement. These animals are all adoptable through the Animal Shelter. And will surely find refuge and safety after some rehabilitation and necessary care.
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