JASPER COUNTY - by Steve Stewart/KJAS - The Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seized numerous dogs from the residence of the late Homa "Hal" Horace Smith on Tuesday morning. Smith, who died in July, was the father of Eric Smith, the man who killed Martin Lynn Byerly in 2007 and is currently serving a life sentence in prison.
SPCA employee Bob McClintock said he estimates there were 35 to 40 dogs on the property, 17 of which were living inside the house which is located at the corner of County Road's 245 and 244, just north of Jasper. McClintock said he and the other SPCA workers would not be able to capture all of the dogs, but they would try to catch the majority of them.
One by one, SPCA employees carried out dogs that were suffering from mange, malnutrition, and other apparent illnesses. They were loaded onto a special bus and will be carried to Houston where they will receive medical treatment, and will be evaluated for adoption.
A neighbor, Harvey Loupe, said that he could smell the dogs and their waste from his house about 300 yards away.
Hal Smith's widow, Janice Smith, lived in the house alone with the dogs following her husband's death..." More
