1,045 Animals Seized from TX Home

Man who gave up 1,009 animals charged with cruelty

• By PEGGY O'HARE

  
  

  A man who gave up more than 1,000 animals found in deplorable conditions and forfeited his northwest Houston home to the county to pay for their boarding and care was released from jail Monday after being arrested on two charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

  Joselito Rivera Boado, 34, whose property became the site of the largest animal seizure in U.S. history last month, is scheduled to be arraigned in court Oct. 19, said Harris County animal cruelty prosecutor Belinda Smith.

  Investigators descended on Boado's property at 6519 Breen Drive on Sept. 23 and found 1,009 animals in filthy conditions, most crammed into tight cages, many without basic necessities such as food and water. Both live and dead animals were found.

  The animals — including birds, ducks, chickens, parakeets, parrots, iguanas, hamsters, rats, three dogs and a goat — were seized and taken to the Houston SPCA. The Houston SPCA continues to ask for donations to help care for them since so many animals were taken into their facility.

  Boado said he was keeping the animals to sell them at flea markets. He agreed to give up all of the animals to the SPCA, while authorities agreed to release two of the dogs to his ex-wife.

  Boado also agreed to forfeit his home and land to Harris County to satisfy the animals' boarding and medical care costs — $213,458 — which authorities sought to make him pay. Appraisal district records show the home and land is valued at more than $142,000..." More

  
  

  
  

  Sept 30, 2009: Houston man to forfeit animals seized by SPCA

  
  

  By PEGGY O'HARE

  
  

  The owner of more than 1,000 animals seized by the SPCA agreed today to forfeit all but two of them to the agency.

  Joselito Rivera Boado, 34, also will vacate his northwest Houston house at 6519 Breen in 30 days and forfeit his house to the county to satisfy $213,458 in medical and boarding costs for the animals that were seized, according to an agreement announced in court today.

  The property is appraised at about $235,000. He still owes about $85,000, so its net worth is $150,000. He has waived his right to appeal this civil action.

  The agreement, however, does not preclude or prevent any criminal charges from being filed in this case. No charges have yet been filed.

  SPCA employees seized 1,009 animals from his property on Sept. 23. About 100 to 200 of the animals have died, said assistant county attorney Linda Geffin. Numerous animal skeletons also were found on the property, she said.

  Two dogs seized will be returned to Boado's ex-wife, once the animals are spayed and neutered and get a clean bill of health, officials said.

  Boado has lived at the property for about eight years.

  Justice of the Peace David Patronella presided over today's agreement in Justice of the Peace Dale Gorczynski's court..." Link & video

  
  

  September 24, 2009: Man Accused in Record SPCA Seizure Wants Animals Back

  
  

  The man at the center of what the SPCA calls the largest animal seizure in U.S. history says he wants his animals back.

  
  
  By: Steve Simmon
  
  
  The homeowner, who only wants to called "Joe", says he did not mistreat the animals.
  
  He gave 39 News a tour of his backyard in northwest Harris County. There are a lot of empty cages; it's the quietest it has been here in nearly eight years.
  
  "This morning I woke up at 8:30, usually its much earlier," Joe said.
  
  On Wednesday, an anonymous tip to the SPCA helped lead investigators to the house in the 6500 block of Breen.
  
  Investigators seized 1,045 different animals. Most are birds and ducks, and it also includes 250 different species of turtles.
  
  Joe says the two acre property is his home and a business he's been involved with for ten years. He says he buys the animals and later sells them at local flea markets.
  
  He says he's never had legal trouble, and claims an investigator with the Harris County Health Department gave him a satisfactory report last month.
  
  "I'm not one of these people that's involved in cock fighting or dog fighting, I'm trying to make an honest living in a bad economy," said Joe.
  
  The SPCA doesn't see it that way..." More & video
  
  

More info on the Houston SPCA site

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• 1,045 Animals Seized from TX Home
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• By Alice Kalthoff

HOUSTON - SPCA investigators worked one of the largest animal rescue operations in U.S. history out of a small Houston house last night.

When they received an anonymous tip about animals in need of medical care, they were stunned to find hundreds of chickens, ducks, parrots, gerbils, iguanas, turtles, snakes, a pony, a goat, and more.

"Very few of the animals had the basic staples of life -- food, water and shelter," SPCA chief investigator Charles Jantzen told the Houston Chronicle. Some of the animals were dead.

The owners told investigators they were raising the creatures to be sold at flea markets.

The animals were immediately taken into SPCA custody, but there will be a court hearing in ten days to decide who will get final ownership of the animals.

So far, the unidentified owners have not been charged with anything..." Link

Local pet store raided, animals seized

Susan Wagoner

Pryor Police Department executed a search warrant on The Fishery pet store in Pryor on Friday, Sept. 4, around 5:30 p.m.

According to the affidavit for the warrant, Animal Control Officer Carolyn Erwin received several complaints in late August “in regard to the poor living conditions of the animals” in the store. After further investigation, a warrant was obtained.

The store is under the voluntary supervision of William Wendt, who has been in the pet store business for nearly 30 years. The store is owned by his fiancee, Kathy Laughlin, but she has full-time employment elsewhere.

“In all my years of the business, I’ve never had any problems or accusations about the way I take care of my animals,” Wendt said, following the search.

Law enforcement was on the scene as well as the local game warden. Fire trucks, the Fire Marshal, and Building Inspector were also in attendance.

Pryor Detective Sgt. Steve Lemmings said Locust Grove veterinarian Carolynne Cash was there at his request, to determine the overall health of the animals on site.

“She said the reptiles were dehydrated, the cages were filthy, the tanks were of inadequate size and there was no apparent protein,” Lemmings said, reading from her report. “She referred to one of the lizards as a dried up apple with legs.”

Wendt said he was totally shocked by the raid. Employee Shelby Coe spoke out in support of Wendt..." More