HOUSTON — Deputy constables with the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office, along with Houston SPCA, seized a dog that was reported to be severely neglected from an apartment in the Alief area, authorities announced Wednesday.
The discovery was made at an apartment complex on Bellaire Boulevard near Dairy Ashford.
The constable's office said the dog was severely emaciated and bones were easily visible. Investigators said the space the dog was living in was in deplorable conditions.
"The dog did not exhibit much energy or respond to the investigator's presence," the constable's office said in a post on Facebook. "The patio was observed in deplorable conditions as urine, feces, and trash littered the ground."
The apartment's leasing office told HSPCA investigators the tenant was under eviction for not paying rent and was not returning their phone calls.
"Given the extreme conditions and the owner expressing no desire to improve or preserve the quality of life of his animal, Pct. 1 Investigator obtained an animal seizure warrant to remove the extremely emaciated dog from the property," the constable's office said.
HSPCA took custody of the dog for evaluation and treatment. A civil seizure hearing will determine whether the owner can retain ownership of the dog.
"This investigation remains ongoing and will be forwarded to the Harris County District Attorney's Office Animal Cruelty Section for a review of criminal charges," the constable's office said.
