64 Dogs, 5 Pigs, 4 Horses Seized
Colorado Springs, CO (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011
County: El Paso

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Alvie Simmons
» Johnathon Simmons

Dozens of dogs, horses and livestock were seized this week from an El Paso County home east of Colorado Springs where they were being kept in "deplorable" conditions, authorities said.

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region assisted sheriff's deputies in removing 64 dogs, several horses, pigs and fowl on Tuesday.

The property owner, Alvie Simmons 65, and his son Johnathon Simmons, 39, were cited for misdemeanor cruelty to animals, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Mike Schaller said.

Schaller did not know the address where the animals were seized, but according to the assessor's records, Alvie Simmons owns a residence at 1155 Houseman Road.

Investigators described the conditions in which the animals were being kept as "deplorable" - inadequate food and water and surrounded by their own waste and garbage.

The owner appeared to be breeding Australian shepherds. No information on arrests was immediately available.

The Sheriff's Office has found homes for the five pigs, four horses and other farm animals. The female dogs and their puppies are in the humane society's foster program and will be available for adoption.

However, many will need costly medical care to recover and donations are being accepted by the humane society to help defray those expenses.

References

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