Victoria’s Municipality Court held a hearing last week regarding the treatment of 25 dogs that were found when first responders arrived at a business on South Laurent Street in regards to a structural fire two weeks ago. The future of these dogs remains in the balance as the case goes through the legal system.
After hearing testimonies and reviewing evidence, a verdict came late Tuesday that the 25 dogs found last week will remain in the custody of Victoria County Animal Services. But there is still a 10-day window for an appeal.
“I’ve been in this industry since 1985 and, when I watched the vet examine these dogs, my allergies kicked up. These dogs just wanted attention,” Mark Sloat, Director of Victoria County Animal Services said.
Since being taken in, the 23 live dogs found on the property have been looked over by a veterinarian who rated most of the dogs a 1 or 2 Purina Body Condition scale. Dogs rated a 1 or 2 on the Purina Body Condition scale are severely malnourished. A 4 or 5 is the ideal score. A score of 8 or 9 signifies obesity in a dog.
“Only one or two of the dogs were rated better than a 3,” Sloat said.
Most of the dogs were found with prominent malnutrition and a few had injuries. Skin issues including the potential for mange are cause for concern. One of the dogs has also been hospitalized for the past two weeks receiving veterinarian care.
“One of the dogs has a large mamorary tumor that weighed almost five pounds and she was still being bred. This doesn’t just happen overnight,” Sloat said.
Of the two dead dogs found on the property, one was found attached to a short chain on a concrete slab with no access to food or water. The other deceased dog was found dead in a kennel.
There will be no necropsy, which is an autopsy for an animal, for the two dogs due to cost. Sloat said that the cost of an autopsy would outweigh the value it would bring to the case.
While the dogs seized from the property are not yet up for adoption, Sloat said they are super friendly dogs and are being weighed weekly as they regain weight.
“It’s sad to see how we treat God’s creations,” Sloat said.
Thanks to the public’s response, 10 animals are now currently being fostered and several dogs have been adopted. A total of 43 dogs are being fostered and 80 dogs are onsite at the shelter.
With 30 kennels split in two, the shelter has 60 kennels and is utilizing pop up kennels to help accommodate an overflow of dogs.
Sloat said dogs who have been at the shelter the longest are the first to be euthanized for space.
“It’s heartbreaking because these aren’t bad dogs, they were just loose on the street,” Sloat said.
Adoptions at the Victoria County Animal Services are under $50 and some adoption fees have been sponsored. All dogs 1 year or older can be adopted for $30. Consider adopting, fostering or even reclaiming a lost pet by visiting 122 Perimeter Rd. View adoptable animals at the shelter online at www.vctx.org/page/animal.control.adoptions
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