 47 Italian Greyhounds and 5 cats seized
San Antonio, TX (US)Date: Jan 9, 2004
County: Bexar
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Jamie Guthrie Daily
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Animal control officials have removed 47 Italian greyhounds and five cats from a San Antonio home. Workers found 34 dogs in plastic carriers and 13 more running loose in the house. The cats also were rounded up and will be checked.
The action came after complaints from neighbors. Animal cruelty investigator Eddie Wright says the house was littered with animal feces, dirty dishes and clothes.
The woman who kept the dogs amid filth in her Northwest Side home, gave up custody of the pets Wednesday, Januarty 14, 2004. She admitted to animal cruelty through her attorney at a municipal civil hearing. Jamie Daily, 61, will pay $1,720 in administrative fees to the city for collecting the dogs last week.
The Humane Society of Bexar County has been caring for the dogs since they were taken from the house.
In return for gaining custody of the dogs, the agency waived the $4,235 cost for their care over the past week, but Daily was assessed $1,720 in administrative fees to the city for collection of the animals.
The municipal charge, failure to provide medical attention, carries a maximum $2,000 fine. The county animal neglect charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $10,000 fine. No hearings are scheduled.
Now that the Humane Society has custody of the dogs, it will offer medical care for the animals before they can be adopted, said Cathy Rosenthal, the agency's director of community relations.
All but one requires dental surgery, she said. Many have mammary tumors, and most have severe skin problems. Several have crooked legs and tails, possibly from their cramped confinement. Two are blind, and others are missing one eye, possibly from fighting, Wright said. PetSmart Charities has donated $4,000 toward the dogs' surgeries.
Each of the animals also must be spayed or neutered before they are adopted.
"Literally hundreds" of people have called the Humane Society in the past week, asking about adopting the delicate-boned dogs, Rosenthal said. "We've gotten calls from as far away as Louisiana for adoptions."
Lone Star Pet Supply has donated 40 sweaters, she said, and PetSmart has promised 50 more. The shorthaired dogs don't do well in cold weather, and having a surplus of sweaters means the dogs can wear one while others are washed.
The public, including members of the Italian Greyhound Club of America, have been wonderful in sending sweaters and beds for the dogs, who are very sensitive to temperature change. The Humane Society still needs about 20 medium-sized sweaters to accommodate the rest of the dogs.
The dogs are being examined and evaluated by humane society staff and veterinarians. The results of those examinations will be forwarded to animal care service investigators. Some of the dogs, who are up to 15 years old, may be available next week, Rosenthal said, "but we're not going to rush into this."
These tiny dogs are about 10 to 12 pounds each and are being kenneled in groups to reduce stress amongst the dogs. The kennels are oversized and located in the shelter's special needs area.
If the dogs are turned over to the Humane Society after the hearing, potential adopters will go through a careful screening process, as these dogs are very delicate and could easily be injured if not placed in the right home. A large dog or kids playing with these small canines could easily break one of their fragile legs. These dogs are also jumpers and climbers and can be difficult to house train, yet they need to be an inside dog.
The nonprofit Humane Society also is seeking donations to defray costs of feeding, housing and vaccinations. For details, go online to www.humanesocietyspca.org, or call (210) 226-7461. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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