CANTON, Texas — 110 allegedly cruelly treated animals were seized from a Canton-area property yesterday and their owners were arrested on charges for child endangerment and animal cruelty.
CANTON, Texas — 110 allegedly cruelly treated animals were seized from a Canton-area property yesterday and their owners were arrested on charges for child endangerment and animal cruelty.
According to the SPCA of Texas, which took custody of the animals, 39 puppies, 35 dogs, 24 cats, 11 kittens, and one horse were seized.
In June 2018, the Child Protective Services, investigating a separate case, notified the SPCA of Texas of the large number of animals at the property. At the time, the SPCA was denied access to the inside of the residence and were not able to obtain enough evidence for probable cause to obtain a search warrant.
On October 19, 2018, the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office notified the SPCA of new evidence which indicated unhealthy living conditions and potential animal cruelty at the property. With the new-fond evidence, a judge granted a search and seizure warrant which was executed yesterday, Friday, October 26, 2018.
"Many of the dogs were found roaming free inside the feces-filled, urine soaked living room of the residence with no access to food or water. Most of the cats were found inside of a bedroom with several litter boxes full of feces and no access to food or water. More dogs and several litters of puppies were found confined to large, wire crates inside the master bedroom of the residence. Another bedroom held a few cats and a single litter of kittens. Two dogs were kept in a large outdoor pen on the property and the remainder of the dogs were found in the backyard of the residence," according to a press release from the SPCA of Texas.
"The SPCA of Texas measured the ammonia level to be 279 parts per million (ppm) inside of the residence," read the release. "For a point of reference, short term exposure to any ammonia level over 20 ppm or long term exposure to any level over 12 ppm can cause health problems in humans."
The animals appear to be suffering from various health conditions, according to the SPCA of Texas, including hair loss, open sores, eye discharge, long nails, diarrhea and matted fur.
The puppies, dogs, cats and kittens were transported to the SPCA of Texas’ Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center and the horse was transported to an offsite care facility, where they will be cared for and evaluated by medical staff until a custody hearing which is scheduled for November 5, 2018, before Van Zandt County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Sandra Plaster.
"The owners of the animals were arrested at the scene for child endangerment and animal cruelty and were booked into Van Zandt County Jail," stated the SPCA of Texas.
One of the alleged suspects has been identified as 61-year-old Thelma Jayne Morrison who has been charged with three counts of abandon or endanger a child with criminal negligence and one count of animal cruelty to non-livestock animals, according to county jail records. Morrison is being held on bonds totaling $100,000. Information on any other alleged suspects was not available at the time of press.
Earlier this year, two women were arrested and indicted in connection with an alleged puppy mill near Canton, Texas. 87 animals were seized in a separate case at a Canton-area "sanctuary."