VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas — Last week, the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit rescued 16 small dogs from a rural property in Van Zandt County.

Investigators responded to the property on Oct. 6 after receiving an anonymous request for a welfare check on an unoccupied property. When they arrived, they heard dogs barking, noticed vultures circling overhead, and quickly realized something wasn’t right. The team got a seizure warrant the next morning and returned to remove the animals.

During the Oct. 7 rescue, investigators found filthy, raised kennels—many lacking adequate shelter—with padlocks on each enclosure. The kennels contained dirty, feces-contaminated water and were surrounded by live maggots, according to the SPCA of Texas.

Many of the dogs, including Yorkies, D

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