HUMBLE, Texas — Seventeen dogs were rescued Thursday from a suspected illegal breeding operation northeast of Houston, according to the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Houston SPCA) and local law enforcement.
The Houston SPCA said investigators, along with deputies from the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, removed two puppies and 15 adult dogs from a property in the 3000 block of Atascocita Plum Court after responding to reports of animal cruelty.
Officials described the conditions at the site as “deplorable,” citing evidence of neglect and confinement.
“Officials at the scene discovered 15 dogs suffering from varying degrees of emaciation, malnutrition, heat distress, untreated skin conditions and cruel confinement,” the organization said in a statement.
Investigators also reported that one dog had a severe, untreated leg injury that appeared to have been left unattended for an extended period. Photos released by the Houston SPCA showed animals confined in crates or chained in a backyard exposed to outdoor conditions.
All 17 dogs were transported to the Houston SPCA Animal Hospital for emergency care.
Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said the case is under active investigation and will be referred to prosecutors to determine whether criminal charges will be filed.
“This is a tremendous number of dogs in distress, certainly one of the larger cases we have ever seen,” Rosen said.
A custody hearing for the animals is expected to take place next week.
The rescue comes just two days after the same constable’s office, working with the Houston SPCA, removed a malnourished horse from a separate property in the Houston area as part of another cruelty investigation.