Preventing and prosecuting crueltyFive Sheep Seized from Trunk of VehicleA routine traffic stop in Hunt County uncovered a severe case of animal cruelty and quickly turned into an unusual animal rescue.On July 17, 2021, what started out as a routine stop for a minor traffic violation turned into a urgent animal rescue. When the Caddo Mills police officer approached the driverof the Honda Civic, he heard motion and distress from the trunk. Upon investigation, the Officer discovered that five sheep had been hog tied and stuffed into the trunk area.In the soaring Texas summer heat with no ventilation, the conditions were cruel and incompatible with sustaining life.The officer immediately called for back-up assistance fromthe SPCA of Texas’ Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit. Withinminutes they arrived on scene and Chief InvestigatorCourtney Burns immediately began to asses the situation.Burns determined that they had no means to keep the animalsfrom escaping into traffic once freed, so she gained access tothe trunk through the rear seat and began to pull each sheepinto the ventilated passenger section of the car to awaitlivestock transport.“I was able to get the back seat moved forward. And as soon asI did that, I just started pulling sheep out into the middle of thecar, just so they could get the A.C., and that’s when I foundthat one of the sheep was unresponsive. It was just limp andlethargic. And so I pulled her out of the car and tried to doC.P.R. Unfortunately, the sheep did not make it,” Burns said.Once stabilized, the remaining four sheep were transported tothe SPCA of Texas’ Equine and Livestock Center for care.The driver was arrested at the scene on state felony charges ofcruelty and torture of livestock animals and booked into theHunt County Detention Center. In an investigative interview thenext day, the man revealed that he owned a trailer thatcould have transported the sheep safely but that he simplydecided to tie them up and put them in his trunk despitebeing advised not to do so by the seller of the sheep.Thanks to the support of generous donors like you, we wereable to quickly respond to this case and bring the sheep tosafety. Soon after they were brought into our care, they wereadopted by a wonderful family.
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