Smith County official gives update on conditions of almost 60 dogs seized from property

TYLER, Texas ( KETK ) – On Monday, more than 50 dogs were taken in an alleged dogfighting bust , now the dogs are receiving care at a clinic in Smith County.

Six seriously injured dogs were rushed to Spence and White Veterinary Hospital in Tyler. They are some of the dozens taken from a Smith County property on Monday.

“He had surgery this morning. his eye had been bitten, his right eye. We had to go in and actually close it, we are going to try and save the eye,” Dr. Gary Spence, owner of Spence and White Veterinary Hospital, said.

These dogs suffered some of the worst abuse, and are suspected to have been used for dog fighting. They have marks visible to their faces, legs and stomachs. Some wounds were even stapled by their owners.

“These dogs look so much better just today. If you’d seen this girl yesterday you would have cried,” Spence said

The other dogs and two cats seized are being cared for by Smith County Animal Control.

“Everyone has kind of cozied in. They’re in an air-conditioned facility, so they are not in the heat and are not having to be out in the weather and stuff like that and they are for sure getting two meals a day,” Amber Greene, supervisor at Smith County Animal Control, said.

The intake caused the shelter to be nearly three times their maximum capacity.

“We are full, I don’t have any other kennels to put dogs in. Even our short half kennels, we have to keep the one next to it open so we can move one dog to the next so we can clean that one,” Greene said.

Dr. Spence said that none of the dogs have died and the critically wounded are recovering well and wagging their tails.

“These dogs are amazing if they have the will to be worked with. So far, all these dogs here have got the will,” Spence said.

The county will keep the dogs until the owner’s first court hearing. After the hearing, their next steps will be evaluated, so the abuse they have already been through will never happen again.

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