Amber Greene, Smith County Animal Control Shelter Supervisor, is pictured in August 2023 with Mint. There are multiple adoptable dogs at the shelter who need homes, as they are at risk for euthanasia. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph File Photo)

Animal control and local advocates are pleading the public to answer the call as the county shelter faces major overcrowding after a recent dogfighting bust.

Posts are circulating on social media saying there is a Monday deadline for dogs at risk for euthanasia to be adopted from the Smith County Animal Control shelter. While a date is not set, there is an urgent need for these dogs to find homes.

Amber Greene, supervisor at Smith County Animal Control, clarified that while over 30 dogs are at risk for euthanasia, there is not a specific date for that to occur. However, there is an urgent need for adoptions.

The shelter is completely full and over-capacity after taking in over 50 dogs this week that were rescued from a suspected dogfighting operation in Tyler.

“With the recent number of animals taken in, it has completely filled the shelter,” Greene said.

This means animal control officers are unable to pick up any animal or accept any intake after-hours for an emergency.

There are currently 33 dogs available for adoption.

The shelter is over capacity due to a lack of staff, Greene said.

“Kennel techs cleaning 89 animals cannot efficiently and effectively clean and disinfect all animals,” she said Thursday. “With pulling my three (Animal Control Officers) in and helping clean, it is still taking too long to clean and disinfect properly. The Animal Control department has a duty to answer the calls of the Smith County residents and we cannot do that to the fullest of our ability if we cannot pick up anything with nowhere to put what we pick up.”

If space doesn’t clear up quickly, adoptable dogs face an unfortunate fate.

“Therefore, if the 33 that are available can’t be adopted or leave with a rescue, they do face euthanasia,” Greene said Thursday. “We do not have a specific day set.”

How the public can help is by adopting the available dogs.

“We desperately need to get our available-for-adoption dogs into loving homes to free up space so we can respond to calls from the Smith County community,” Greene said.

For information on adopting, call the Smith County Animal Control administrative office at 903-266-4303. The shelter is located at 322 East Ferguson St. in Tyler and is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A potential adopter can come before 1 p.m. if prior arrangements have been made, Greene said.

She added that adoption applications can be filled out and emailed to shelter@smith-county.com anytime.

Adoptions are free at this time, according to the shelter, which has waived the normal adoption fee to help alleviate overcrowding. Photos and information about adoptable dogs can be viewed at the county’s website at www.smith-county.com/government/departments/animal-control/animal-listings .

The overcrowding comes after 61 animals – 59 dogs, two cats – were rescued from a mobile home on County Road 4136 which authorities believe was used as a dogfighting ring. Smith County Animal Control was called out to the property Monday after an anonymous tipster told officials they believed dogs were living in horrible conditions and a dog was possibly eating another.

Authorities found dozens of injured dogs on the 9-acre property, where some were confined in cages or make-shift kennels and others were found in a shed, tied to treadmills where they were being forced to “work out” with heavy weights on their necks, police said. The dogs had no ventilation or air conditioning in 85-degree weather and were susceptible to heat stroke or death, an investigator said in an arrest affidavit. Others were chained in the yard.

In a building on the property, authorities found evidence of a dog “fighting arena” that had dark red blood stains on the carpet and equipment they believe had been used to injure the dogs.

About six of the rescued dogs are under the care of a local vet, while the rest must be housed at Smith County Animal Control. They are not adoptable at this time, as they are still considered “evidence” in the ongoing criminal investigation where two Tyler brothers are charged in the case.

The suspects, Kerry Jones and Michael Jones, are set to appear before a judge Wednesday afternoon.

Nicholas Pet Haven, a animal welfare nonprofit in Tyler, is also asking for help as it looks to find homes for animals in its care. When the time comes after legal proceedings are over, the nonprofit is anticipating the need to take in some of the dogs that were rescued from the suspected dogfighting ring. If this is the case, the nonprofit will need to free up some space currently taken up by 90-plus adoptable animals.

The organization is accepting foster applications, as well. Anyone interested can fill out a foster application at tinyurl.com/NicholasPetHavenFosterApp.

The nonprofit is also accepting donations to go toward the affected dogs’ veterinary care. Donate via PayPal at PayPal.me/nicholaspethaven, call 903-312-7585, or visit the facility at 12903 Hwy 155 South in Tyler. Supplies needed are bleach, paper towels, heavy duty trash bags, Clorox wipes, newspapers, blankets and any other cleaning items. Donors can leave the donations on the porch if the facility is not open.