Special Reports

By STEPHANIE JETER
Staff Writer

GLADEWATER — Sheriff’s officials are calling it the worst case of animal cruelty in Upshur County history.

Two-hundred forty-six dogs, mainly small breeds, were rescued from a Gladewater residence Wednesday morning. Many of the dogs were malnourished, diseased and in need of vet care, said Upshur County Sheriff Anthony Betterton.

The animals were part of a “puppy mill,” allegedly run by Teresa Dawson, 51, of Gladewater. Betterton believes the operation had been running for years.

Though warning signs nailed to the homestead’s front gate off Private Road 3463 deterred visitors in the past, a search warrant issued Tuesday granted law enforcement access to the small rural lot.

You could smell the dogs before seeing them. A sharp scent hinted of the fecal matter and decay that lay ahead.

Though trees kept the littered lot hidden from view, the woods did nothing to muffle dogs’ barking and whimpering.

Rows and rows of kennels stacked four and five deep held toy breeds like Pomeranians, Boston Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers. Most dogs were paired male to female to ensure continuous breeding.

For many dogs, Dallas SPCA Director of Communications Maura Davies said the problem was malnutrition. Dogs had eye problems and were diseased. The dogs’ fur was matted and splotchy.

As SPCA employees removed each dog for vet care, the dogs’ barking got louder.
“They don’t look good,” Betterton said.

Grass grew knee-high around heaps of waste. Old propane tanks, lawnmowers, tubs of rancid water and old couches filled the spots between rows of kennels.
A travel trailer, in which Betterton believes Ms. Dawson may have slept, sat central to all the feces-soaked dog runs and holding-kennels.

Inside were even more dogs, confined by a piece of fencing pushed against the doorway by a table.

The dogs clawed at the fence’s openings and barked.

In front, four Chihuahuas curled up on an extinguished trash pile.

A larger trash heap was found behind a separate mobile home.

“You can imagine what that is,” Betterton said — he couldn’t explain the ashes were probably remains of charred dogs.

Inside the mobile home were even more animals.

Betterton tried to open the structure’s door, but was met by at least four small breed dogs that tried to escape. An emaciated Chihuahua squeezed around the door frame. Roaches dripped from the ceiling. Liquid feces replaced the floor.

Ms. Davies said air inside the house had an ammonia level of 28, while 12 is considered dangerous.

The door had to be closed, but Betterton didn’t walk away.

“Just listen to what’s in there.”

The dogs clawed and barked against the torn-up door.

Ms. Dawson wasn’t home. She had been picked up on charges of felony cruelty to animals Monday.

Ms. Dawson left behind more belongings than the dogs.

Christmas lights strung from tree to tree held up clothes. Soiled toys hung from branches and a coffee pot sat atop more trash on the back porch.

And to the side of the house, a sandwich board labeled “Chihuahua” sat beside a urinal and wheel bases.

Betterton said the puppies born to the ill-treated dogs may have been sold at fairgrounds or on the side of the road.

Regarding plans for Ms. Dawson’s littered land, Betterton said the county may seize the property, or it could go back to the original owner.

Whatever the decision, it would happen in court.

The dogs were discovered Sunday when a stranger responded to Ms. Dawson’s sale ad for a camper, Betterton said.

The would-be buyer left the land and instead bought a 40-pound bag of dog food. He fed the dogs and then notified the sheriff’s office, Betterton said.

Since that voluntary meal, the sheriff’s office has fed the dogs around 600-pounds of food.

Betterton called for state regulations to be placed on puppy sales and asked citizens to keep an eye open for animal cruelty. All animals will be cared for by the SPCA until a custody hearing is set.

“The animals will see a vet and for the ones that can, be brought back up to health,” Ms. Davies said.

If the court awards custody to the nonprofit SPCA, Ms. Davies said the animals would be considered for adoption on a case-by-case basis.

Ms. Dawson is being kept at the Upshur County Jail on bond of $20,000.

Updated Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007 at 9:49 a.m. CDT

Threatening signs at the entrance of number 164 on Private Road 3463 in Gladewater warn possible intruders from entering. Two hundred forty six dogs were found caged in feces-infested cages, without water or food, Wednesday morning.
(Staff photo by Jaime R. Carrero)