A man was arrested Monday after officials found two deceased dogs and several others in extremely poor condition on his Grand Saline property.

Kenneth Wayne Adams was arrested and charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals on Monday following an investigation in December by Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

On Dec. 13, Van Zandt County deputies responded to a report of deceased animals on a property, where they found two pit bull-mixed dogs chained to trees and in extremely poor physical condition.

The deputies made contact with Adams, the property owner, and requested the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigators (ACI) Unit to assist the investigation. Adams told investigators that the deceased dogs belonged to previous owners who had moved out two weeks prior.

Adams allowed investigators to observe five other dogs, which he owned, inside of his residence.

Investigators entered to find four of the five dogs in extremely poor condition and in need of immediate medical help, all of which were living in unsanitary conditions with urine and feces found on the floor.

The five dogs included two Cane Corsos, one Boxer, one mixed-breed and a Chihuahua mix dog. Only the Chihuahua was reported to be in good condition, which was found to belong to a friend of Adams who he was dog sitting for.

Adams refused to surrender custody of all of the dogs but agreed to surrender two of the dogs in the poorest health conditions along with the two deceased dogs. The surrendered dogs were transported to the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center in Dallas for veterinary care and forensic evaluations.

The two deceased dogs were determined by forensic evaluation to have died due to severe lack of food and water while under Adams’ care after the alleged previous owners moved.

After receiving search and seizure warrants for Adams’ property, the SPCA investigation unit returned on Dec. 15, to remove the remaining three dogs and transport them to Dallas to receive evaluation and care.

In a civil custody hearing on Dec. 23, in Van Zandt County, the SPCA of Texas was given custody of two of the three seized dogs after a judge determined that they had been cruelly treated. The other dog, the Chihuahua mix, was returned to its original owner after being spayed, vaccinated and microchipped by the SPCA.

Examinations of the four living dogs that Adams owned showed that they had experienced prolonged lack of food and water, along with parasites.

The SPCA ACI unit obtained a warrant for Adams’ arrest through Van Zandt County. He was taken into custody, arrested and booked into Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office on the same day, Jan. 5.

According to Van Zandt County Jail records, Adams was released after posting bail shortly after his arrest.

The SPCA highlights the importance of this case, as it comes during Unchain Your Dog Month, an annual public awareness initiative establishing minimum standards of care for dogs outdoors.

“Responsibility for an animal does not disappear when circumstances change,” SPCA of Texas Chief Investigator Courtney Burns said. “When someone accepts care, custody or control of an animal, they also accept a legal and moral obligation to provide basic necessities such as food, water and appropriate shelter. Failing to do so, as the evidence in this case demonstrates, can result in devastating and sometimes fatal consequences.”

Source: Ketk