More than 100 Dogs Seized in East Texas Animal Cruelty Case

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and the SPCA of Texas discovered 106 cruelly treated dogs on property in the Rose Pointe Addition near Athens, Texas.

Acting on a search warrant  and animal seizure order, officers found the dogs in cruelly confined quarters and were forced to live in their own fifth inside a feces filled , urine soaked home on the property.

Seven of the dogs were also found deceased and officers say there were 22 live puppies.

Approximately 60 of the dogs were confined to crates, and some crates contained seven dogs.

Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt said the stench of ammonia was so intense that investigators wore personal protective equipment, including breathing apparatus while inside the home.

Arrested at the scene was 59-year-old Deborah Eckeberger, she was taken into custody on a motion to revoke community supervision elated to an October  2012 conviction for cruelty to animals.

The dog seizure is a result of an ongoing investigation which began in October of 2011.

The SPCA of Texas will provide care and shelter for the dogs pending a hearing set for Friday December 21^st, 2012 at which time a judge will determine the permanent custody of the dogs.