SAN ANTONIO – Animal Care Services seized nearly 80 cats and dogs from a South Side home on Wednesday morning.
Officers executed the warrant at a home in the 1400 block of West Harding Boulevard near Southwest Military Drive, according to Sgt. Manuel Flores, an ACS Field Operations Supervisor.
ACS was alerted about the home from firefighters who responded to a fire there on Friday, Flores said. Roughly six cats suffered smoke inhalation as a result of the fire.
ACS obtained the warrant after the family living at the home refused to surrender the animals, Flores said. Inside, officers found “deplorable conditions.”
“There’s a large amount of filth inside the home,” Flores said. “So conditions are bad.”
Most of the animals were in cages with their own filth, and officers had to take breaks to get fresh air throughout the seizure.
In all, investigators seized 79 animals — 51 dogs and 28 cats. ACS officials said it was one of the largest seizures in recent history.
The animals will be evaluated and taken care of until an administrative hearing that will determine who will keep custody of the pets.