Willard and Pat D'Spain - Bandera, Texas

Feb 11, 2010: Seized Animals In Red Tape Limbo Jennifer Dodd A total of 48 dogs were seized along with 13 cats from a small home a few miles away on Farm-to-Market 470. "I have rescue groups lined up that want to take these dogs and give them the care that they need," said Jennifer Gaertner, Community Liaison for Bandera County Animal Care Services. A judge approved the seizure Thursday, deeming the conditions the animals were living in at the home of Willard and Pat D'Spain unsafe and unclean. The seized animals would have gone up for adoption Friday, except the D'Spain's appealed the judges decision. While Gaertner said samples taken from the grime on the floor of the D'Spain's home tested positive for feces, Pat D'Spain said the mess was caused by a recent pipe burst that flooded their home..." More & video Feb 2, 2010: County seizes 61 animals By Jessica Hawley-Jerome

Sixty-one animals were seized from Bandera County residents Willard and Pat D'Spain last week, on the grounds of poor living conditions.

After receiving numerous complaints that the D'Spain's dogs were roaming at large in the highway and neighbor's yards, Bandera County Animal Control Liaison Jennifer Gaertner went to the D'Spain home on FM 470 toward Tarpley to suggest she repair her fence line.

"While we were there, we noticed the living conditions," Gaertner said.

Gaertner immediately secured a seizure warrant from Justice of the Peace Lynn Holt on Jan. 27 and returned to the D'Spain residence with Bandera County Deputy Rick Neely and a Comfort veterinarian. According to reports, the living conditions outside and inside of the home were squalid.

Medina County and the City of Hondo Animal Control Units assisted in transporting the animals - 48 dogs and 13 cats - to the Bandera County Animal Control Center. Euthanasia has been recommended for some of the animals; Gaertner said others that appear to be healthy have underlying medical issues..." More

Fit for neither man nor beast

By Jessica Hawley-Jerome

In response to complaints from neighbors that the noise and stench at a Utopia property were worsening, Bandera County Animal Control launched the largest seizure it has yet undertaken. With the help of 15 volunteers from varied rescue organizations, 43 dogs and two cats were taken into custody on Monday. Also discovered during the raid was a small child, sleeping in the midst of what witnesses described as deplorable.

"Filthy would be an understatement," Bandera County Animal Control Liaison Jennifer Gaertner said.

Gaertner said that authorities secured a warrant signed by Justice of the Peace Lynn Holt and headed toward the Utopia residence at 9 a.m. on Nov. 23. Between two mobile homes on approximately 10 acres, Gaertner said the dogs, all different varieties of miniature dachshund, were housed in inhumane conditions.

"The dog houses were made of pressed wood with no bottoms... there was no place for the dogs to get off of the wet ground," Gaertner said, who further described partitions separated by bare ground wire fencing with two to six dogs per run.

Gaertner said the inside of the houses were cluttered, unkempt and littered with animal feces and urine. An elderly couple reportedly lives in one of the homes, while a younger couple lives in the other with four children. Authorities alerted Child Protective Services, who removed a 3-year-old girl immediately, as well as her three siblings who were at school during the animal seizure. According to Director of Law Enforcement Richard Smith, the children were placed with their grandparents in Utopia on a safety plan..." More