Uvalde shelter animals seized after alleged neglect, crowding

SAN ANTONIO -- More than 150 dogs and a handful of cats are now evidence in a civil case against the Friends of Uvalde Animal Shelter.

Uvalde County deputies raided the shelter Tuesday night, amid allegations of health concerns and filth at the property. Wednesday they were joined by volunteers from the local Humane Society and law enforcement cadets from a nearby academy, cleaning out kennels and gathering up the animals.

“In general we found overcrowded conditions, animals that needed some treatment, some malnourished animals,” said Uvalde County Attorney John Dodson.

Dodson said a judge agreed to a seizure warrant after several individuals came forward with stories of neglected animals in overcrowded cages.

A concerned volunteer tells KENS-TV complaints against the shelter date back to 2007.

Dodson said recent changes to Texas law made it easier for them to get and serve the warrant.

Officials said most of the animals appeared to be doing well, but deputies discovered a dead dog in a trash pile on the premises.

Besides the intense smell, there was evidence of insects and parasites. Volunteers could be seen spraying themselves down with repellants, as they help round up the dogs.

Dodson said, “I visibly noticed ticks and noticed what appeared to be mange to me. So, I’m sure that’s being treated.”

Out front, a small triage unit was set up, where veterinarians inventoried and examined the animals.

And behind a privacy fence, deputies found makeshift tents that housed even more dogs.

So many, the county attorney has agreed to wash everything down and keep the animals here until the owner’s court date next week.

In that hearing, a judge will determine whether Friends of Uvalde Animal Shelter will get to keep the animals that were seized.

The owner faces no criminal charges at this time.

Officials in Uvalde said they've found more than 100 animals in a shelter that was crowded and infested with bugs.

The Uvalde animal shelter had a team of visitors Wednesday that it had not seen in a long time. But these volunteers were there on behalf of the sheriff to help clean up and give health checkups to dozens of shelter animals.

Complaints have been coming in for years about the conditions inside the shelter, saying the animals were neglected and dealing with overcrowded conditions.

Now, thanks to recent changes in the law, the county attorney said a judge was able to issue a warrant to seize the animals and get a first-hand look inside the structures.

Volunteers said smells and crowded cages full of barking dogs greeted them inside.

There were more covered cages in the back yard, too.

Overall, more than 150 dogs and a handful of cats were confiscated. But there was no good place to take them all right away, so law enforcement officials said they planned to feed and water them all at the location -- after they cleaned out the pens.

The local humane society and some law enforcement cadets were caring for the dogs and cats Wednesday as the animals were being held as evidence against the shelter's owner.

That owner was not facing any criminal charges, but she does have a hearing next week in county court to determine whether she gets her dogs back.