HOUSTON—In the heart of the nation’s fourth-largest city, there are some things you just don’t expect to see.
A week ago, David Lassen, head of the Knights of Columbus Chapter 4577, noticed a pack of stray dogs feeding on a dead horse in a field during a chapter event near Hobby Airport.
Lassen said he took a closer look and noticed several cow carcasses and a frail herd.
"It’s a shame to leave them laying out there like that. It’s a shame to let them starve," Lassen said.
For several days, Lassen and others have watched helplessly from one side of the fence as the starving animals watched back from the other.
They even brought in some of their own hay for the herd.
The manager of the property said the cows belong to a man who’s in the process of being evicted.
The manager said the man has been providing supplemental hay, but clearly the animals need more.
To the manager’s credit, he had additional hay brought out after speaking with 11 News.
That’s when we met Clarence Gailes.
At first, Gailes said the dead cows weren’t his.
Then, his story changed.
"There, one right there just a few feet away from us. Yep, now that was one of mine," Gailes said, pointing to a carcass.
As for the general condition of his herd, Gailes said they’re doing OK.
"They’re not butterball fat, but they’re not starving either," he said, just steps away from a dead animal. "You can look at them and see they’re not starving."
The SPCA said they're investigating the case.
Precinct 6 Deputy Constables seized about 20 of the cows Tuesday, to transport them to the Houston Humane Society. An animal cruelty officer with the constable's office said 13 cows were found dead on the property and the survivors were diseased or malnourished.
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