An animal cruelty bust on the Westside of San Antonio uncovered a failed attempt at an in-home dog rescue. What investigators serving a warrant found on Wednesday, April 15 was actually a heart wrenching scene of a dozen or more dogs in “deplorable conditions,” housed in their own excrements.
Investigators with San Antonio Animal Care Services executed a warrant at a home near the intersection of Southwest 19th Street and Vera Cruz, on the Inner Westside of the city. By the time the warrant was completed, the ACS team rescued 11 dogs now in their shelter under veterinary care.
But Lisa Norwood, public information officer with ACS, told MySA another half dozen or so were removed by the homeowner mid-warrant service and are still being tracked down. She said the investigation suggests there could’ve been as many as 15 or more in the pseudo rescue facility.
“Investigators found very unsanitary and inhumane housing conditions on the property – a lot of urine and feces in the housing areas and vomit. It looked like things hadn’t ben cleaned or picked up and the animals were in their own waste,” Norwood told MySA, saying the site certainly didn’t measure up to other community rescue efforts she’s seen.
While those 11 dogs have been rescued and are being well taken care of by ACS employees, there’s a long process ahead. Criminal charges of animal cruelty can take months of hearings and court proceedings, meaning these dogs – many of which are not small – must stay in ACS care. This limits kennel space at ACS as more dogs need help or are turned in.
To combat this, ACS is asking that some kind hearted locals step up as emergency fosters, signing up to take care of other animals in the local shelter to keep space open for incoming animals. Norwood explained common concerns around fostering are actually not a cause for concern at all. Fosters through ACS are provided food and all the other necessities, like veterinary care and support, without any expense to the foster. All they need is someone with the time, space and care to help out an animal in need.
There is a process, which involves applying at ACS to become a foster. But when big influxes of animals come in, like they did Wednesday, applications can be fast tracked. Though, Norwood says they really ask fosters be willing to home an animal for at least 2 to 3 weeks.
Anyone interested in donating their space and time to nurturing an animal in need for a short while can visit SAACS at 4710 Highway 151 until 7 p.m. Wednesday. But the facility is open for anyone able to help foster seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.