(December 14, 2006)—Temple animal control officers have removed 24 dogs and two cats from a residence in the Canyon Creek area that doesn’t have running water and has been tagged as unsafe for occupancy.

A Temple city ordinance allows only three dogs in a residence.

Officials discovered the animals after checking out a complaint about a strong odor coming from the home, whose resident has a history of animal-related violations, the city said.

A warrant was issued and the city’s director of animal services, assisted by police, a housing official and a city health official, entered the home and discovered the animals living in what the city said were “extreme unsanitary conditions.”

Animal cruelty charges were pending against the resident Thursday evening.

The incident comes a little more than a week after a woman who owns a home in Temple where authorities found the decomposing bodies of dozens of pets was named in seven complaints charging misdemeanor animal cruelty and six counts of failure to dispose of a dead animal properly, which is a violation of a city ordinance.

The complaints stem from the discovery of the decomposing bodies of dozens of dead pets in the backyard of the home at 2912 W. Avenue R in Temple.

Police officers and Animal Services workers discovered the bodies on Oct. 31 after a resident called to complain about a strong odor coming from the backyard of the home.

As a result of the discovery, Temple police obtained a search warrant and found dead animals in the yard, a storage shed and stuffed in trashcans and trash bags. Some were buried, but others were not.

The city said one dog was found alive on the property, but was extremely malnourished.

The dog was in stable condition in foster care, eating well and was expected to live, the city said.

It will not be returned to the owner, the city said.

More News >>Sports >> Weather >>