Case Details

Hoarding 70 animals, including ostriches, peacocks, pigs, boars, raccoons, geese and doves
Dickinson, TX (US)

Date: Mar 6, 2003
Local Map: available
Disposition: Not Charged

Abuser names unreleased

Case ID: 1483
Classification: Hoarding
Animal: raccoon, pig, bird (wildlife), bird (other farmed)
View more cases in TX (US)
Login to Watch this Case

Galveston County authorities removed more than 70 animals from a home Thursday after discovering they were left abandoned in their pens. The animal rescue operation began Wednesday at the home, located in the 5000 block of Farm-to-Market Road 517 East in Dickinson.

Investigators told News2Houston that they received calls from neighbors complaining of a foul odor coming from the home, and then discovered the abandoned animals, which included ostriches, peacocks, pigs, boars, raccoons, geese and doves.

One of the animals was discovered dead, but many were malnourished, sick and stuck in 1 foot of mud and manure, authorities said.

"I've never seen a thin pig before," said Kim Hogstrom, a spokeswoman for the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "There's a pig out there that is virtually skin and bone. There's no telling how long these animals have gone without food and water and certainly shelter.

"The ostriches are nearly bald from what appears to be parasitic involvement and they're all starving."

Investigators said that the owners of the home are an older couple who left the home and are now living in Liberty County and either abandoned the animals or were just unfit to care for them.

The couple have been charged with municipal sanitary violations, authorities said.

Add this case to:   Del.icio.us | Digg | Furl Furl |

Neighborhood Map

For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.

Back to Top

References

MSNBC/Click2Houston

« TX State Animal Cruelty Map



Send this page to a friend
© Copyright 2001-2006 Pet-Abuse.Com. All rights reserved. Site Map ¤ Disclaimer ¤ Privacy Policy