A Rio Hondo woman is charged with cruelty to animals, after authorities found dozens of animals kept in poor conditions. The property had no running water or electricity, and at least one dead dog.
The Harlingen Humane Society called the incident an extreme case of hoarding.
Martha Edwards, from Rio Hondo, is charged with animal cruelty. Police said she was hoarding more than 20 dogs, inside a home that was falling apart.
The animals were living in their own feces and urine. Several dogs have broken bones, and nearly all lost their hair from severe skin conditions.
Some of the animals had open wounds from infections that were never treated. “The ears, the eyes you can see all of it and it’s just from the horrible living conditions,” Kim Warunek, with the Harlingen Humane Society, said.
Edwards’s mother lives across the street; she said her daughter was trying to get help. “She’s been trying to get help from a certain person that’s with animal advocate or something like that,” she said.
The police chief said they warned her to clean up the property and animals 10 months ago.
“It’s affecting both the neighbors, on either side. If they have pets and children, any disease that comes out of here are going to transfer into the neighboring yards,” Rio Hondo Police Chief William Bilokury said. “It becomes a bigger problem.”
The pets rescued on Friday appeared to be from advertisements on the internet or strays off the streets.
“She doesn’t want them to be killed or something, that’s why she brings them home,” Edwards’s mother said.
“People that are hoarders do believe they’re doing the right thing,” Warunek said. “I don’t think it’s a malicious act. They’re very emotionally involved with what they’re doing. Unfortunately, because of the mental issues that are involved with hoarding, they don’t realize how bad the conditions are.”
The property is currently under police watch. The rescuers said they will do what they can to save them.
Police said charges could be filed against the property owner for several city violations.
The Laguna Madre Humane Society is assisting to pay for medical costs of the animals that they can save.
Clear the Shelter Events are happening across the Rio Grande Valley on August 15. The events are listed below:
Harlingen Humane Society
1106 Markowsky, Harlingen
12:00pm – 5:00pm
All dogs and cats are $25
Includes vaccines, spay/nueter, microchip, and deworming
Palm Valley Animal Center
2501 W. Trenton, Edinburg
11:00am – 5:30pm
All dogs and cats are $10
Includes vaccines, spay/neuter and deworming
Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center
416 FM 511, Olmito
11:00am – 5:30pm
All dogs and cats are $25
Includes vaccines, spay/nueter, microchip, and deworming
More information is available at the humane societies’ websites. They are listed below:
Link:Harlingen Humane Society
Link:Palm Valley Animal Center
Link:Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center
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