Animal News

Authorities bust alleged puppy mill with 138 dogs northeast of Dallas

Dogs were found living in terrible conditions.

Photo courtesy of SPCA

A seizure was made of an alleged puppy mill in Honey Grove, a tiny town 90 miles northeast of Dallas that unironically calls itself "the sweetest town in Texas."

On January 5, the SPCA of Texas, the Fannin County Sheriff's Office, and the Honey Grove Police Department seized 140 animals living in horrific conditions. The SPCA of Texas took custody of the animals, which included 117 dogs, 21 puppies, and two cats, and transported them to the organization's Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center in Dallas. They'll be examined by medical staff and cared for until a custody hearing takes place.

More than 30 dogs were housed inside the residence on the property, but most of the animals were confined to a structure behind the residence. There, the dogs were living in filthy cages, crates, and kennels, up to three dogs in each. The structure was infested with roaches, which were found crawling all over the dogs and cats housed there.

In one area, the dogs were being housed in feces- and urine-filled wire crates stacked on top of each other. In another area, a makeshift run of feces- and urine-filled pens held the majority of the dogs.

The entire structure was coated in feces and drenched in urine, and the stench of feces and urine was so strong that it caused investigators to gag and could be smelled from well outside the structure.

The animals appear to be suffering from various health issues, including matted fur, fur loss, fleas, dental issues, long nails, ear issues, tumors, and more.

The animal owner admitted to selling the dogs, many of which were small breeds such as Yorkies, Maltese, and Pomeranians. All large-scale animal breeders in Texas are required by law to be licensed and inspected on a regular basis. It is unclear at this point if the animal owner is properly licensed.

The Texas puppy mill bill, known as the Large-Scale Commercial Dog and Cat Breeder Bill, took effect on September 1, 2012. It provides guidelines for the treatment of animals in large-scale commercial breeding operations in Texas, defined as breeders who keep 11 or more breeding females or sell 20 or more puppies or kittens a year.

The law specifies that certain parameters exist for such animals, including feeding, space, shelter, ventilation and medical care, and is administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

A better law would ban these kinds of operations altogether.

The SPCA of Texas' Animal Cruelty Investigators and the Fannin County Sheriff's Office were alerted to the situation by Child Protective Services, who were on the property on another matter. CPS sent a complaint of suspected animal cruelty.

The SPCA of Texas' Investigators and the Fannin County Sheriff's Office visited the property on January 5. Seeing the circumstances, they agreed that it was in the animals' best interest to seize them, and took the information to a judge who granted a search and seizure warrant.

A custody hearing will be held on Friday, January 12 at the Fannin County Justice of the Peace in Bonham, with Honorable Judge Royce W. Smithey presiding.

pets

Animal News

Wills Point, Texas man charged with cruelty for abandoning 18 animals

Facebook

Lucas Wayne Penrod, charged with animal cruelty

Another animal cruelty case has emerged from Van Zandt County, resulting in the arrest of a Wills Point man: Lucas Wayne Penrod was charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals, a 3rd degree felony.

It began on Friday, October 24, when the Wills Point Police Department performed a welfare check at a mobile home within the city limits. Officers became concerned when they heard multiple dogs barking along with a foul odor of animal waste.

On October 25, after obtaining a search warrant, Wills Point PD and the SPCA of Texas ACI Unit entered the residence and found multiple animals living in deplorable conditions.

The mobile home was filled with trash and animal feces. The team discovered a total of 8 cats, 2 guinea pigs, 4 adult dogs, and 4 puppies, cruelly confined to the unsanitary living conditions on the property.

Two dogs were confined to filthy crates with no access to water.
Three puppies were in a small bathroom covered in urine and feces; one of the puppies was deceased and decomposing.
The guinea pigs were found in a cage without access to food or water.

Most of the animals showed signs of long-term neglect and were in dire need of urgent medical intervention. The animals were seized by the SPCA of Texas and transported to the organization's Dallas location for veterinary care.

Dog in cage Wills Point Lucas Wayne Penrod Dog abandoned in Wills Point by Lucas Wayne Penrod.SPCA

On October 26, Lucas Wayne Penrod, the owner of the animals, contacted an SPCA of Texas Investigator regarding the animals. The Investigator determined that Penrod had unlawfully allegedly abandoned the animals, failing to provide them with proper care, resulting in the death of one of the puppies and the critical state of the surviving animals.

On October 28, the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit obtained an arrest warrant for Penrod, who was apprehended by Tyler Police Department and booked into the Smith County Jail with a $50K bond. Penrod was charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals, a 3rd degree felony.

On November 1, at a civil custody hearing at the Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 courthouse in Wills Point, Penrod relinquished custody of the 18 allegedly abandoned, cruelly treated animals to the SPCA.

"The squalid conditions these beautiful animals were living in were abhorrent--locked in spaces without food or water, in their own excrement," said SPCA of Texas ACI Unit Chief Investigator Courtney Burns, CAWA. "This is some of the worst mistreatment of domestic animals I've seen in my extensive career in animal cruelty investigations. In no small part, these pets owe their lives to the Wills Point Police Department. If it wasn’t for their quick thinking to involve us right away, I don't think the animals would have made it."

"This case perfectly illustrates the team effort that investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty cases in Texas is," Burns added. "We are extremely thankful to the Tyler Police Department for their efficient assistance in apprehending Penrod so that he can be brought to justice in the timeliest manner possible. And we are especially grateful to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and court system with whom we continue to partner to get justice for abused animals in their jurisdiction."