KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Earlier today, the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office and the SPCA of Texas removed 452 rabbits from a Kaufman County property where they had previously seized animals from in 2013.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Earlier today, the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office and the SPCA of Texas removed 452 rabbits from a Kaufman County property where they had previously seized animals from in 2013.
The rabbits appeared to have various medical conditions and were not living in conditions in compliance with the Texas Health & Safety Code, according to the SPCA of Texas.
The SPCA of Texas visited the property, in the 8000 block of Bandera Loop east of Kaufman, on Monday, March 4, 2019, in reference to information suggesting that a welfare check was warranted. The SPCA and Kaufman County Sheriff's Office had previously seized 166 Rabbits, 36 guinea pigs, 12 goats, five cats, one dog and one bull from the property in July 2013.
During the visit on Monday, investigators made contact with the owners and discussed bringing the animals' conditions into compliance with the Texas Health & Safety Code.
"The investigator visited the property again on Wednesday, March 6, and witnessed that the conditions had not improved," stated the SPCA. "At that time, the owner agreed to surrender the animals to the SPCA of Texas."
The rabbits were transported to the SPCA of Texas' Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center, where they will be cared for and evaluated by medical staff for placement on a case-by-case basis.
According to the SPCA of Texas:
The rabbits were found inside of crates inside a large, barn-type structure covered with tarp and other materials. In some places, more than four crates were stacked on top of one another. The crates were filled with feces, hair, dirt and debris, and the rabbits had little access to appropriate food or water. Many crates contained multiple rabbits, including numerous litters of juvenile rabbits. Two deceased rabbits were found on the property.
The rabbits appear to have various medical issues, including long nails, hair loss, missing ears, missing eyes, wounds, matted fur and injured limbs.