Breckenridge Texan

By Tony Pilkington and Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Over the past couple of months, the Stephens County Humane Society and the City of Breckenridge’s Animal Shelter have been dealing with dozens of dogs that have been rescued and/or seized from two different locations in the community.

Breckenridge Animal Control Officer Stephen Sharp, left, transfers a dog that Robin Heidelberg, right, had just rescued to the van for the organization Rescue the Animals from Abilene. RTA is helping the Stephens County Humane Society find homes for the more than two dozen dogs and puppies rescued from an abandoned property just outside of Breckenridge. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

In June, at an abandoned house just outside of Breckenridge, 25 to 30 dogs were discovered in various stages of neglect, according to those involved in their rescue. The original owner of the animals died last year, and the person who was supposed to be taking care of them was hospitalized, said Kathy O’Shields, president of the SCHS. There have been about 15 puppies and six adult dogs rescued, and there are still several more dogs on the property.

With permission from the out-of-state sister of the original owner, who inherited the land, the Humane Society began working to save the dogs. Robin Heidelberg volunteered to feed and water the dogs and puppies and has helped catch many of them so that they could be transported to the Rescue the Animals organization in Abilene.

“They’re not feral dogs, but these are dogs that have never been worked with, never been on a leash,” O’Shields said. “Robin made friends with them, and she’s the one who primarily is able to catch all those. Of course, puppies, you can pick them up, load them up, put them in crates and go. But some of them were a little bit scared. Some of them were super sweet.”

The situation was discovered not long before the flooding in the Kerrville area, and with so many animals needing shelter due to the damage by the floods, O’Shields had a hard time finding anyone to take in the dogs. Rescue the Animals was able to find a rescue group in Montana to take one of the mother dogs and four puppies, and the North Shore Animal League in New York took 10 puppies and another mother dog.

Then, last week, three more dogs were picked up by Rescue the Animals, and they have agreed to take the other three that are still on the property, when they are finally caught, O’Shields said. They plan to send those dogs, plus an additional one still at RTA, to a group in Kansas.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has been a big help with the situation, O’Shields said. Most of the dogs were rescued and transported directly from the abandoned house, but the City of Breckenridge agreed to temporarily keep a couple of them on Aug. 10, and they were picked up at the shelter on Monday, Aug. 11.

Two of the dogs rescued by the Stephens County Humane Society wait at the City of Breckenridge Animal Shelter to be transported to Abilene, where the organization Rescue the Animals and their partners will find homes for them. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

BPD Animal Seizure

According to a news release by the Breckenridge Police Department, on Aug. 7 they responded to a property in the 1200 block of West Sixth Street on a call about a deceased animal. Officers arrived and discovered deceased and decaying wildlife and fowl, the statement said.

The City of Breckenridge seized 17 dogs and puppies from a location on West Sixth Street last week. According to a news release from the City, the dogs were malnourished, unlawfully restrained and in otherwise bad condition. (Photo Courtesy of the City of Breckenridge)

The BPD also discovered numerous dogs that were malnourished and confined outside by metal chains or kennels, according to the news release. The City of Breckenridge’s Animal Control officers followed up on the call, and on Aug. 12, they obtained and carried out an animal seizure warrant for the property.

According to the statement, officers entered the property, seized 17 dogs, and transported them to the Animal Shelter at 601 N. Dubois.

Police Chief Blake Johnson said that there will be a hearing on Friday, Aug. 22, regarding the future of the dogs. Additionally, he said there is an ongoing criminal investigation involving the Breckenridge Police Department, Breckenridge Animal Control, City of Breckenridge Code Enforcement, and the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.

The City of Breckenridge’s Code of Ordinances has several laws pertaining to the situation described by the BPD.

For example, under “Sec. 4-13. – Unlawful restraint of dogs,” an owner may not leave a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint — defined as a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device that attaches a dog to a stationary object — unless the owner provides the dog with access to adequate shelter, as defined in ordinance; an area that allows the dog to avoid standing water and exposure to excessive animal waste; shade from direct sunlight; and potable water.

Additionally, an owner may not restrain a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint that is a chain; has weights attached; is shorter than the greater of five times the length of the dog, as measured from the tip of the dog’s nose to the base of the dog’s tail, or 10 feet; or is attached to a collar or harness not properly fitted. While there are some exceptions listed, most of them refer to temporary restraint.

The ordinance also limits the maximum number of dogs that anyone may have to four dogs over the age of 10 weeks. There are exceptions for animal shelters, veterinarian clinics and permitted boarding facilities.

Johnson said that at this time, the dogs are not eligible for adoption due to their physical condition and aggressive behavior, as well as the amount of ticks and fleas that were on the dogs, and other health concerns.

On Aug. 12, the City of Breckenridge carried out a warrant to seize 17 dogs and puppies at a property on West Sixth Street. Many of the animals were malnourished and/or illegally confined, the Breckenridge Police Department said in a news release. (Photo Courtesy of the City of Breckenridge)

Cutline, top photo: Sydney Hallmark with Rescue the Animals in Abilene, left, and Stephen Sharp, an animal control officer with the City of Breckenridge, right, load one of the dogs rescued by the Stephens County Humane Society into the RTA van. RTA works with animal rescue groups around the country to find homes for abandoned or unwanted pets. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)