Over 100 Dogs Seized by SPCA near Athens; Seven Dead
Posted/updated on: December 19, 2012 at 12:14 pm
ATHENS Seven dogs have been found dead and another 106 allegedly cruelly treated dogs were seized by the SPCA near Athens. KETK reports that Monday at 9:00 a.m., authorities found 83 dogs and 22 puppies at a suspected Henderson County puppy mill, located at 2353 Rose Pointe. According to the SPCA, the animals were cruelly confined, not receiving sufficient care, and were forced to live in their own filth inside a feces-filled, urine-soaked home on the property. Most of the dogs were allegedly suffering from eye discharge, flea infestation, long nails, severely matted fur, and skin conditions. About 60 of the dogs were confined to crates, and some crates included up to seven dogs.
Sheriffs officials began investigating the house back in October of 2011. Once law enforcement discovered the conditions of the animals, they contacted the SPCA for support. The SPCA says the stench of ammonia was so intense that detectives wore personal protective equipment, including breathing apparatuses, while inside the home. The SPCA of Texas measured the ammonia level in the residence to be 67 parts per million (ppm). As 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 dogs have been taken to the SPCA of Texas Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney, where they will be cared for until a custody hearing on Friday, December 21, at 10:30 a.m in Poynor. Deborah Eckeberger, 59, has been arrested for alleged cruelty to animals. She has been released on $15,000 bond.
The SPCA says that puppy mill owners breed dogs for the purpose of selling the puppies for a profit, and that the living conditions of the dogs come a distant second. If you suspect youve found a puppy mill, the SPCA of Texas encourages you to report inhumane conditions and animal neglect to your local law enforcement agency and to the SPCA of Texas. You can go to http://www.spca.org/knowpuppymills to do that.
