- Texas, USA -
After Smith County authorities confiscated 38 dogs from Dog Days Ranch and Rescue, 53-years-old TINA LOPER and 55-years-old ERIC WAYNE MORRIS (both pictured below) were arrested and charged with animal cruelty.
On January 4, animal control performed a welfare check on Dog Days Ranch and Rescue on FM1252 in Winona that LOPER and MORRIS operated together.
Officers found the dogs in bad condition. Many of them appeared to have injured legs, and one 11-month-old puppy was covered in fleas and had difficulty breathing.
One female dog was found emaciated with heavy discharge around her eyes. She was sadly euthanized because she had a bone stuck in her trachea and was slowly starving to death.
Animal control called in Smith County Constable Josh Joplin.
On January 10, Constable Joplin met with LOPER who admitted: “We made a lot of mistakes.” KLTV reports that LOPER said she had not taken anymore dogs on board, but animal control told to get her numbers down and she did not listen.
On January 21, officials removed 38 dogs and on January 25, a warrant for the pair’s arrest was obtained.
LOPER was arrested on February 9, and MORRIS on February 11.
Both were charged with two counts of cruelty to a non-livestock animal (death, poisoning or serious bodily injury) and six counts of cruelty to a non-livestock animal (failure to provide for the animal).
MORRIS was released the same day after posting a $110,000 bond.
According to online records LOPER also bonded out of jail.
A petition has been created addressed to Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman asking for prison sentences for both LOPER and MORRIS.
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The female admitted to a lot of mistakes. Geez. That makes everything all better, NOT! The poor baby with a bone stuck in her trachea who was euthanized…how long had she suffered? That means this ‘rescue’ either didn’t bother check on these blessed souls, didn’t give a good GD or both! RIP ALL who these monsters murdered & please get better to all who survived this so-called rescue ranch! Part of their punishment here should be starvation but most definitely will be in Hell.