41 animals seized
San Antonio, TX (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Dec 2, 2006
County: Bexar
Disposition: Not Charged
Person of Interest: Maria Ebaben
Maria Ebaben had seven Chihuahuas too many, authorities said. Citing a violation of city code, officials on Dec 2 seized 12 Chihuahuas, one German shepherd, seven cats, 20 poultry and one pigeon from her East Side home, said Eddie Wright, animal cruelty investigator for the city.
Ebaben, 59, was flabbergasted by the seizure and insisted she bathed, fed and vaccinated the dogs and cats on a regular basis. The animals did not appear to have been mistreated, but it is unlawful to own more than five dogs in San Antonio on a residential lot smaller than 10,000 square feet, said Lisa Norwood, spokeswoman for Animal Care Services.
"It comes down to an issue of care," Norwood said, noting the financial burden of properly caring for pets should preclude the ownership of so many.
"We're trying to ramp up enforcement of our animal laws," she added.
According to Ebaben and two of her daughters, she had been dog-sitting seven of the Chihuahuas for relatives.
Wright said Ebaben admitted to investigators she had been breeding the Chihuahuas in her house for profit - another violation of the law - but Ebaben denied saying that.
"Why did they take my chickens?" Ebaben pondered Dec 5 afternoon. "They're so fat. Are they going to eat my chickens?"
Some of the poultry were not confined to pens - another violation of city code, Wright said.
Ebaben had not been cited or charged on Dec 5.
A hearing in municipal court was set for Monday at 8 a.m., when a judge will decide the fate of the seized animals, Norwood said. References« TX State Animal Cruelty Map
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