'Deplorable conditions': 88 animals rescued from The Colony home receiving vet care
THE COLONY, Texas - The Colony is investigating if charges will be filed against the owners of 88 animals seized from a home on Tuesday. An additional 22 animals were found dead inside the house.
88 animals rescued, 22 found dead
What we know:
![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox4news.com/www.fox4news.com/content/uploads/2025/01/932/524/the-colony-animal-seizure_2025_01_29t1509ct_20e4_m_00.00.31.24.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
A total of 24 dogs, 45 cats, 12 reptiles, and seven mice were rescued from the home in the 4,800 block of Alta Oaks Lane.
Sgt. James Barfield with The Colony Police Department called it an animal hoarding situation.
"We utilized our officers to ensure the scene was safe. Because of the history of the homeowners, we thought that there might be the potential for confrontation," he said. "We called the homeowners out of the house. Initially, they refused. They wanted to see a copy of the warrant. But once they saw a copy that we had of the warrant, they did come out and were relatively cooperative, helping get the animals out, telling us their names and ages."
The dogs ranged from small dogs to large dogs like a bull mastiff. Many of the cats were kittens. The reptiles included snakes, turtles, and tortoises.
"There was a significant number of them, and they weren’t spayed or neutered, so they were continuing to multiply. That number just continued to grow," said Jennifer Rainey, a spokesperson for The Colony.
![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox4news.com/www.fox4news.com/content/uploads/2025/01/932/524/the-colony-animal-seizure_2025_01_29t1403ct_60fc_m_00.04.36.52.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
What they're saying:
Sgt. Barfield was one of the officers who responded to the home.
"They were, I would call them deplorable. They were some of the worst conditions that I’ve ever seen inside of a house. Pretty much every room of the house had animals in it. They were not being cared for properly," he said.
"We’re thankful that we were alerted to this and we’re thankful that we were able to jump in and assist in getting those animals out of the concerning condition," Rainey said.
Unfortunately, 22 of the animals didn’t make it out of the house alive.
What's next:
The owners, a husband and wife, have 10 days to make their case before a judge as to whether they should get their animals back.
Their names are not being released because they have not yet been charged with any crime.
If a judge rules against them, they could face possible charges ranging from a misdemeanor up to a third-degree felony.
Meanwhile, the rescued animals are being evaluated by veterinarians and getting any necessary medical care. They will be sent to separate rescue organizations for temporary housing.
"They’re all going through vet examinations right now. They’re taking a look at them. Many of them have different respiratory illnesses, or congestion, eye discharge, and things like that that are concerning. So, the vets will take a look at that. We’ll also get them vaccinated so that we are sure that they can continue to be healthy. And then, should they go through the adoption process, they will be spayed and neutered, too," Rainey said.
![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox4news.com/www.fox4news.com/content/uploads/2025/01/932/524/the-colony-animal-seizure_2025_01_29t1403ct_60fc_m_00.04.57.50.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
What you can do:
Rainey said people who adopt existing dogs and cats at the city’s shelter will in turn help these animals.
"These animals are not adoptable yet. But all of our adoptable animals are available online. Anytime you adopt it makes space for more animals that might be in this type of situation," she said.
Anyone interested in supporting a rescued animal can contact The Colony Animal Services at 972-370-9250. You can also visit the animal shelter’s wish list and donations page.
The Source: The information in this story comes from The Colony Police Department, the city of The Colony, and past news coverage.