BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — Bexar County Sheriff's Office says more than 60 animals were found living in "horrid" conditions at a property in far southwest Bexar County.
Deputies say the animals seized from the Atascosa property, located along the I-35 frontage road, included dozens of dogs as well as other livestock. They say officials became aware of the situation when Animal Care Services went out to give vaccines and noticed the dozens of animals.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar called the situation a "puppy mill" and said the property owner was running a commercial business. The dogs were living off of old bread and water. Eight other dogs were found dead on the property and one goat was found chained up with visible wounds.
Officials later said that during the process of triaging the animals, two of the dogs gave birth to a total of eight puppies.
A 79-year-old man who lived on the property was cooperating with police. Deputies believe the hoarding has been going on for years. Deputies and cadets who helped clear out the animals had to wear hazmat suits.
"Pretty horrible situation that these dogs were in. Granted, they were in the shade, but here right now, it's going to be 105 degrees in the shade," Sheriff Salazar said. "And when you are laying in your own filth eating bread that is, at best, a couple of days old, that is a horrible situation for any living being to be in."
Sheriff Salazar also condemned the man's business practices.
"Profiting off of these dogs' misery is something this man was absolutely doing, no doubt about it. But thanks to us and our partners, we were able to get this done and these animals out of this horrible situation," Salazar said.
“Each of the animals will be given a physical and their health will be determined and those that will be eligible for adoption in about two weeks probably will be put up on the Bexar County website," said Dr. Andrea Guerrero-Guajardo.
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