80 Dogs Rescued From Squalor

Help support the SPCA of Texas care for them.

By Maura Davies, Senior Director of Communications, SPCA of Texas

Under the authority of the Marion County Sheriff's Department, the SPCA of Texas has seized 80 dogs from a property in Lone Star, Texas, which is northwest of Jefferson, Texas in Marion County. The person who had been in care, custody and control of the animals, Barbara Holz, was arrested by Marion County officials yesterday. She had apparently been squatting on the property and may face charges for that offence.

The trailer on the property that Ms. Holz was living in was so urine-soaked that it maxed out the ammonia detector at 99 parts per million (ppm). For reference, when ammonia levels reach 25 ppm, the environment becomes hazardous to human health.

The dogs were transported to the SPCA of Texas' Perry Animal Care Center 8411 Stacy Road/FM 720 in McKinney, where they will be cared for until the custody hearing, which is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16 at 11:00 a.m. at the Marion County Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1 courthouse building at 114 West Austin Street in Jefferson, Texas, Justice of the Peace Lex Jones presiding.

Animals that the SPCA of Texas staff were able to view prior to the seizure appeared to be suffering from hair loss and eye discharge. The animals did not have adequate shelter or water at that time. The animal owner did not allow access to view all animals prior to the seizure, so the full extent of the animals' health issues was unknown.

This is not the first time the person in care, custody and control of these dogs has faced animal cruelty charges, as they have had animals seized by law enforcement in the past and currently has several active animal cruelty warrants on file from other counties.

Generally speaking, it is common for individuals who have previously been known to hoard animals to continue to have the urge to do so despite run-ins with the law or even past removal of animals. Furthermore, recent research has shown that there is a direct correlation between a tendency to hoard animals and psychological issues requiring professional help.

If the SPCA of Texas is awarded custody at Wednesday’s hearing, the animals would be individually evaluated for potential adoption or placement on a case by case basis.


HOW YOU CAN HELP:
• Please help the SPCA fund future rescues like this and to support the SPCA's other programs and services.
• Consider adopting one of the many wonderful animals at the SPCA, who just want a loving home.

For more information:

• SPCA announcement
• ArkLaTex: Accused Animal Hoarder Behind Bars in East Texas
• KLTV: Dog Seized in Marion County

SPCA of Texas
2400 Lone Star Drive
Dallas, Texas 75212
Phone: 214-742-SPCA (7722)

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Network
Photo credit: photos from the seizure provided courtesy of the SPCA of Texas.