16 Dogs Seized From Natomas Woman's House
NATOMAS (CBS13) -- Ena Silva is proud of the work she's done, rescuing abandoned dogs, many of them pit bulls from across the state.
But Monday CBS13 cameras were rolling when Sacramento Animal Control officers knocked on her door.
Silva didn't initially seem to want to answer.
"Oh my god, it's Animal Control," she said.
The problem? Silva had 16 dogs inside her single-family home in Natomas. The odor of those animals inside the small space was overwhelming. A neighbor had complained about the dogs and a city ordinance only allows three per household.
"She clearly did some quick cleaning up, but it's filthy," Animal Care Services spokeswoman Gina Knepp said. "There's a horrible smell."
Silva told CBS13's Checkey Beckford she doesn't really notice. "I'll admit I don't, I don't smell it," she said.
Animal Control officers had been trying to inspect the home but said Silva has been dodging them.
They say the dogs were in filthy conditions but generally healthy.
They also found Silva's 90-year-old mother who suffers from dementia and told officials she hadn't eaten in days.
"My mom has dementia, she'll say it's Christmas," Ena Silva said.
"It's rather cold in there. I don't know if there's food," Knepp said.
The Sacramento Police Department was called out and confirmed there was enough food and water in the house.
While officers tended to her mother, Silva watched as her babies were taken away.
"They told me they weren't going to take the dogs," she said crying from the street as the dogs were loaded up.
