Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Belinda Smith |
Animal mill - over 1,000 animals surrendered
Houston, TX (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009
County: Harris
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Joselito Rivera Boado
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Officials with the Houston SPCA made the biggest animal seizure in the organization’s history Wednesday.
Authorities entered a property on Breen Drive in northwest Harris County and seized 1,045 animals.
There were dogs, a pony, birds, hamsters, ducks and even turtles. The owners said they were raising the animals to be sold at flea markets.
The SPCA said the animals were kept in unsanitary conditions lacking proper food, water and shelter.
“Bad conditions -- lots of trash everywhere where the animals were being housed. Filthy conditions. Not the proper way they should have been taken care of,” said Meera Nandlal of the Houston SPCA.
Investigators also found dead animals on the property.
The SPCA said they went to the property after receiving an anonymous tip.
The animals were taken to the Houston SPCA for nutritional and medical attention.
It was not clear what, if any, charges would be filed.
A judge will decide where the animals will be placed in a court hearing on Sept. 29.
Any of the animals given to the SPCA will be put up for adoption.
The SPCA on Thursday said they are desperately in need of the following donations: shredded paper for gerbils and hamsters, newspapers to use as bedding for bird cages, finch food, parakeet food, food for large hook bill birds, chicken food and duck food.
Monetary donations can be made at http://www.houstonspca.org.
Case UpdatesA man who gave up more than 1,000 animals found in deplorable conditions and forfeited his northwest Houston home to the county to pay for their boarding and care was released from jail Monday after being arrested on two charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
Joselito Rivera Boado, 34, whose property became the site of the largest animal seizure in U.S. history last month, is scheduled to be arraigned in court Oct. 19, said Harris County animal cruelty prosecutor Belinda Smith.
Investigators descended on Boado's property at 6519 Breen Drive on Sept. 23 and found 1,009 animals in filthy conditions, most crammed into tight cages, many without basic necessities such as food and water. Both live and dead animals were found.
The animals -- including birds, ducks, chickens, parakeets, parrots, iguanas, hamsters, rats, three dogs and a goat -- were seized and taken to the Houston SPCA. The Houston SPCA continues to ask for donations to help care for them since so many animals were taken into their facility.
Boado said he was keeping the animals to sell them at flea markets. He agreed to give up all of the animals to the SPCA, while authorities agreed to release two of the dogs to his ex-wife.
Boado also agreed to forfeit his home and land to Harris County to satisfy the animals' boarding and medical care costs -- $213,458 -- which authorities sought to make him pay. Appraisal district records show the home and land is valued at more than $142,000.
Boado is now living in the 11100 block of Carvel in Houston, court records show. He was released from jail after posting bail bonds totaling $2,000. | Source: Houston Chronicle - Oct 13, 2009
Update posted on Oct 14, 2009 - 11:44AM |
A Texas man whose more than 1,000 birds, gerbils and other animals were recently seized has agreed to forfeit all but two of them to the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Joselito Rivera Boado, 34, also agreed to vacate his northwest Houston house in 30 days and forfeit his house to the county in order to help satisfy $213,458 in medical and boarding costs for the animals that were seized by animal rescue personnel a week ago.
Assistant county attorney Linda Geffin said 100 to 200 of the animals have died.
The SPCA has said the owners indicated they planned to sell the animals at flea markets.
No charges have been filed. | Source: KWTX - Oct 1, 2009
Update posted on Oct 14, 2009 - 11:43AM |
References« TX State Animal Cruelty Map
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