Houston SPCA
Dogs rescued from an alleged breeding operation in Humble.
Seventeen dogs were rescued Thursday from a suspected breeding operation northeast of Houston, according to the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Houston SPCA investigators and deputies from the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office rescued two puppies and 15 adult dogs late Thursday from a property in the 3000 block of Atascocita Plum Court in Humble, the organization said in a news release.
The Houston SPCA described the conditions as “deplorable.”
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“Officials at the scene discovered 15 dogs suffering from varying degrees of emaciation, malnutrition, heat distress, untreated skin conditions and cruel confinement,” the organization said.
One dog was reportedly found with a severe leg injury that “appeared to have gone untreated for an extended period” of time, the Houston SPCA said. Photos shared by the organization show dogs apparently being held in crates or chained outside in a backyard, exposed to the elements.
All the animals were transported to the Houston SPCA Animal Hospital, according to the organization.
Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said Friday an investigation is ongoing and his office will present its findings to county prosecutors to determine if criminal charges are warranted.
“This is a tremendous number of dogs in distress, certainly one of the larger cases we have ever seen,” Rosen said in a statement.
The Houston SPCA said a custody hearing for the dogs is “expected to take place next week.”
The rescue of the dogs came two days after the constable’s office reported that it removed a malnourished horse from a separate property in the Houston area in conjunction with the Houston SPCA.