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Custody Hearing Date Set For 222 Animals Seized By SPCA

McKINNEY (CBSDFW.COM) - The SPCA of Texas will find out Thursday if a judge will award custody of 222 cruelly treated animals they seized last week.

In all -- 166 dogs, 43 cats, 14 kittens and 13 puppies were taken from a property in Wolfe City. Of the animals, two kittens, one cat and one puppy were found dead on the property.

Many of the animals were cruelly confined in kennels, pens and other enclosures outdoors and inside two buildings on the property, according to the SPCA. The animals also suffered from medical neglect.

One building contained that 89 animals didn't have air conditioning. Fifteen cats were found alive in a three-level wire cage encrusted in feces.

SPCA-cat
(credit: SPCA of Texas)

A dead puppy was found in one feces-filled kennel, along with a second, living puppy. Dozens of dogs were found living in groups in several pens inside the same building.

One air conditioned building, which contained 26 animals had a strong odor of ammonia inside.

More than 100 dogs were found living in groups in several feces-filled pens outside.

Many of the animals are suffering from open wounds, eye discharge, nasal discharge, hair loss, open surgery incisions, matted hair, tick infestation, long nails and other issues. Some are underweight and some don't have their eyes anymore as a result of the cruel neglect.

On July 16, investigators from the SPCA of Texas and the Hunt County Constable visited the property to conduct an inspection as a part of an ongoing investigation spanning almost a year. Investigators found the animals were cruelly confined and medically neglected and determined that it was in the animals' best interest to obtain a warrant and remove the animals immediately.

If the SPCA of Texas is awarded final custody of the animals, they would be individually evaluated for potential adoption or placement on a case by case basis.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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