Athens —
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, aided by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas and other agencies, executed a warrant Monday on a Lake Athens residence, where more than 100 dogs were being hoarded.
Sheriff Ray Nutt said authorities seized 83 adult dogs, 22 puppies and one deceased dog. The bodies of seven other deceased dogs were also found on the property at 2523 Lake Pointe.
According to police reports, the HCSO contacted the SPCA on Dec. 12 for support of an ongoing investigation. Joint efforts of Henderson County Attorney’s Office, Henderson County Adult Probation Office, HCSO and SPCA of Texas, led the HCSO Animal Control Deputy to obtain a search warrant and animal seizure order on Monday. They found the animals living in horrendous conditions.
According to a statement issued by Nutt:
“The dogs were cruelly confined, were not receiving adequate care and were forced to live in their own filth inside a feces-filled, urine-soaked home on the property. Most of the dogs are suffering from eye discharge, flea infestation, long nails, severely matted fur and skin conditions. Approximately 60 of the dogs were confined to crates, and some crates included up to seven dogs.”
Nutt reported that the stench of ammonia was so intense that investigators wore personal protective equipment, including breathing instruments while inside the home.
The SPCA of Texas measured the ammonia level in the residence to be 67 parts per million. 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 SPCA removed the animals and transported them to the SPCA of Texas' Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney, where they’ll be held until a custody hearing later this week.
The custody hearing will be Friday, 10:30 a.m., at the Henderson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Kelly Harris Courthouse on Farm-to-Market Road 315 in Poynor.
Local News
Warrant issued to seize dogs
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Don’t let the fire die
Brownsboro Junior High eighth-grader Yasmine Mendez lights one of the candles during Thursday's induction ceremony for the National Junior Honor Society. Mendez and this year's NJHS class helped to officially welcome 36 new members who will be in eighth grade next year.
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‘Click it or Ticket’
The Athens Police Department is part of a nationwide effort to cut down on traffic injuries and deaths by getting motorists to buckle their seat belts. It’s part of the Click It or Ticket campaign underway through June 2.
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WWII vets visit Washington, D.C.
Two Athens men who served in World War II are part of a veteran’s visit to the nation’s capital this week.
J.C. Garrett and Doug Tanner join 28 others being escorted by Brookshires Grocery Co. who will tour the WWII Memorial and other sites. The veterans were set to leave Texas on Thursday and return at 9 a.m., Saturday. -
Taking a break, just like you
Henderson County offices will close Friday through Monday for the Memorial Day weekend.
The courthouse and other county locations have traditionally closed on a Friday in May for Fiddlers Day. County employees were given May 24 as a holiday this year in anticipation of the event. The county’s 2013 holiday schedule was already set when the organizers of Fiddlers Day decided to make it a Friday night and Saturday affair on May 31 and June 1. -
Great ability, not debatable
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Wet and wild
A line of severe thunderstorms roared throughout Henderson County on Tuesday afternoon, dropping significant rainfall and taking down trees and power lines.
The storm produced heavy rains in Athens, where the National Weather Service reports 2.16 inches fell. Residents in the county were seeing three or more inches in their rain gauges. -
Strong message
A Henderson County jury delivered a strong message to a 37-year-old Kemp man in the sentencing phase of a child sexual-abuse trial on Tuesday.
The jury, in Judge Mark Calhoon’s 3rd District Court, handed Danny Ray Lusk four life sentences and one 20-year sentence, the maximum jail time on each count. -
Going to ‘WAR’
A program termed “We Are Responsible” was generated this year at South Athens Elementary School by its principal, Eugene Buford.
At first reading, the slogan appears to be for the school’s students. But, after looking at the slogan and noting that the abbreviation is WAR, Buford says the slogan is for educators. -
A need that’s very easy to see
The Greater Athens Lions Club is asking for used eyeglasses, lenses, glass cases and hearing aids for the annual Lions Club White Cane Day this Saturday.
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Too close to home
It was the kind of moment any parent would dread.
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