Six Kirbyville area residents were arrested and charged on animal cruelty charges as Jasper County Sheriff�s deputies recovered more than 119 animals from a residence.
The raid was conducted on the morning of Feb 3 at a residence off of Highway 96 on County Road 457. Officers were accompanied by animal investigators from the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Three residences were raided by sheriff�s deputies.
According to Jasper County Investigator Stacy Chambers, the department was tipped off to the conditions of the animals during a checkup by Child Protective Services on foster children at one of the residences.
Chambers said on Feb. 1, CPS presented a report to sheriff�s investigators photographs of dead animals at the residences.
�During the investigation, we came out and viewed the animals ourselves,� Chambers said. �It�s a dreadful situation with the animals in the house.
� Initially, the suspects will be charged with cruelty to animals but once we get everything collected, they will be charged with everything and anything we can c harge them,� Chambers said. �It is a very sickening sight in the house. There are dead animals in these houses.�
One of the residences raided, housed only animals and according to SPCA investigators, the animal feces was �ankle deep.�
According to Heidi Brasher, Community Outreach Manager for the Houston SPCA, the sheriff�s department contacted the group about the large animal seizure and agreed to participate in the raid.
Brasher said the Houston SPCA had worked with Jasper County officials during Hurricane Rita to deal with sheltering lost animals.
� We have the facilities, the manpower and the experience to handle a large scale seizure,� Brasher said.
� We do have a warrant to seize the animals and we believe a lot of the animals to be in bad condition,� Brasher said.
Brasher said the animals will be taken back to Houston and checked out to determine their condition.
�At that point, a judge will determine if we have permanent custody of the animals or what will happen to the animals,� Brasher said.
The owner of one of the residences, Philmore Cline, said animals are dropped off on his street and taken in by his wife.
�People dump their strays here all the time,� Cline said. �I don�t really know how many animals I have. People said if we don�t take the dogs, they would kill them and I don�t believe in killing dogs. � We raise the dogs, buy dog food for them and let God do the rest,� Cline said. �I take care of my animals because I love them.� Case UpdatesThe home, which is just off of Highway 96 on County Road 457 in Kirbyville, had housed more than 100 neglected, starving or dead animals, including dogs, cats, pigs, chickens and horses.
The conditions were deplorable, with animal excrements ankle deep throughout the house. The Jasper County Sheriff�s Office would not release details to KBTV-4 News; but told our news partner KJAS Radio the conditions were �sickening�.
The raid began when Child Protective Services were contacted about the conditions the children in the home were being exposed to. But, when investigators arrived on the scene, they discovered more than they bargained for. Along with the three children living in unsanitary conditions they found a property filled with animals that were being neither fed nor cared for, and living in and around nothing but garbage and their own waste. Sheriff Ronnie McBride says the owners are facing immediate charges on multiple counts of cruelty to animals, with more to be filed, as evidence is uncovered. Chambers went on to say that every charge possible would be filed. Heidi Brasher, Community Outreach Manager for the Houston SPCA, said the animals will be taken back to Houston until the hearing, and then they will find homes for those that can be adopted, and they will have to make some tough decisions on the rest.
"Houston Animal Cops", a series that airs on The Animal Planet and is based out of the Houston SPCA offices, was on hand to film the raid and will feature the event in an upcoming episode of that television program. | Source: KBTV News - February 2006
Update posted on Feb 18, 2006 - 4:33PM |
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