HOUSTON—The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is concerned about how often the poor economy is used to justify the abandonment of animals.
Animal abandonment cases are up more than 25 percent in Harris County alone. Many of the dogs and cats slowly starve to death, never knowing why the people they counted on left them behind.
Officer Suzanne Hollifield remembers the horrible feeling she had when responding to one recent complaint of animal abuse.
"I was shocked," Hollifield said about one of the dogs she saw. "Her body condition was terrible and I was surprised she was still alive."
Hollifield said the female dog was chained to a fence at a vacant home on E. 43rd Street and had been there for several weeks. It had no access to food, water or shelter. The area was covered in feces and ants.
She found another dog locked inside the sweltering and filthy house with no electricity, food or water.
Neither dog had any hope of escape.
Hollifield took the dogs to BARC, then called Charlotte Liberda with Red Collar Rescue.
"I tell you, it made me cry," said Liberda. "They were in such horrible condition. Both of them were so emaciated. They weighed about half of what they should weigh."
The female dog had extreme muscle atrophy, hookworms and a high heartworm positive.
The male dog had muscle atrophy, raw lesions and was extremely fearful.
Liberda took the dogs to a vet who nursed them back to health.
The dogs' owners were sentenced to time in jail. Regina Norman received 200 days for animal cruelty and Terria Davis was given two months.
They blamed their actions on the faulty economy.
"What’s frustrating is that the people who abandon their animals seem to justify it by saying they’ve come upon hard times," said Assistant District Attorney Belinda Smith.
That's not a valid excuse in the DA's book.
Unlike most of the economy’s voiceless victims, the dogs Hollifield discovered had a happy ending.
They have found refuge in River Oaks, one of Houston’s most fashionable neighborhoods. Wendy, who lost her own dog about a year ago, named her new pets Cinderella and Prince.
"As you can see they love each other," she said. "They're happy and healthy. They're really good dogs."
"They look fantastic!" said Officer Hollifield during a visit to Cinderella and Prince at their new home.
For the first time in their life, they’re learning what it means to be loved. Something which, in spite of their past, they never lost the capacity to give.
"... That's the most wonderful thing about animals," Officer Hollifield said. "They're capacity to keep loving and to forgive."
If you are unable to care for a pet, you can turn them over to the SPCA. Call 713- 869-SPCA to set up an appointment or click here for frequently asked questions about admitting a pet.
Click here for more on Red Collar Rescue.
