LONOKE COUNTY, Ark. (KTHV) --Several dogs of all breeds and ages were taken from a house in Austin (Lonoke County) Thursday afternoon.
According to Lt. James Kulesa of the Lonoke Co. Sheriff's Department, 137 dogs were seized by county officials and the Humane Society of Pulaski County Thursday.
The confiscation of the dogs took hours and lots of hands of deck. Kay Simpson with the Humane Society says some of the dogs were in critical condition.
"As Doc processes them, does the medical tests, the pulling of the blood, the vaccinations, the body and everything, we'll document every animal that will be issued an I.D. number." says Simpson.
Lonoke County Officials got a tip about the dogs' overdcrowded and neglected living conditions.
Simpson describes it as "Extreme hot temperatures prolonged...They can have a heat stroke and die."
Cabot Animal Control and the Lonoke County Sheriff's Department helped the humane society seize the dogs Thursday---and this isn't the first time authorities came out to check on these animals.
All breeds, all colors. Small. Big. Young. Old.
Simpson says, "The owner walked us through the property. What went on will have to be --you know that's evidence and testimony that will have to go through court."
The dog owners--Sandra and Marcus Nance--have not been arrested.
After the vet's checkups Friday, the information will go to the Lonoke County Prosecutor's office to determine if the Nances will face any punishment.
Simpson says, "What we observed was--according to my vet's opinion and my 20 years of experience--that there WERE some animals in life-threatening situations."
Simpson says their average inventory this time of year is about 170 animals. This load from Austin almost doubled their workload.
A word of advice from the woman who deals with rescues and strays all year round: "Folks that are going to breed animals and sell them should do their research on the breeds that they stock their kennels with to make sure those animals have quality life away from danger. Who can stand heat, who cant."
The investigation is ongoing as the humane society determines what status the dogs are in. Lt. Kulesa says some counts of cruelty to animals may be subject to felony charges.