EUSTACE, Texas (KETK)– The SPCA of Texas was granted custody of 66 animals on June 11 after they were removed from a Eustace property due to alleged animal cruelty.

According to the non-profit organization, after an incomplete request for appeal at a civil custody hearing on June 11, the judge defaulted to the previous judgement which granted SPCA custody of 10 dogs and 56 cats experiencing animal neglect and cruelty.

These animals were removed from a metal building owned by Yelp for Help Animal Rescue ran by Haley Janelle Hull.

Hull was arrested on May 29 and charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals – neglect. She was booked into the Van Zandt County Detention Center where she was released the following day on a $10,000 bond.

On May 4, the SPCA of Texas team was contacted by another animal rescue that said there was a possible animal cruelty case at Hull’s rescue. The other organization said that Hull, who worked with her as a veterinary technician, had asked her to take care of Hull’s animals while she was out of town.

However, the rescuer was not provided with care instructions or medications for the sick animals and when she went inside the metal building on May 2 she saw around 15 dogs and 47 cats confined in crates in a small room.

“The next day, she notified the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, who responded on May 3rd,” SPCA of Texas said. “[The rescuer] stated that many of the animals were malnourished and many of the cats were sick. [The rescuer] advised the SPCA of Texas ACI Unit that she could not continue to care for these animals due to the unsanitary conditions and toxic ammonia inside the metal building.”

In the morning on May 5 in Eustace, the SPCA of Texas team removed 10 dogs and 56 cats from the building, which appeared to be abandoned.

“The grass was overgrown, approximately knee-high, with piles of rotting trash littered throughout the area,” SPCA of Texas said. “When approaching the metal building the SPCA of Texas ACI team noted a distinct odor of ammonia consistent with that of an unnaturally large amount animal urine and feces.”

The SPCA Texas measured the levels and found it to be 50 parts per million of ammonia. Meaning, short term exposure to any level over 20 parts per million or long term exposure over 12 parts per million could cause health problems in people.

In the first room, there was three dogs running loose and seven confined to a wire crates with urine and feces inside the crates and on the floor, SPCA of Texas said. Majority of the dogs had diarrhea, were infested with fleas and were positive for intestinal parasites, hookworms and giardia.

In the second room, there were stacked wire cages and a large cate condo style enclosure but the doors to the cages were open, allowing the cats to roam freely. “56 cats were confined to this small area and the ammonia level was higher, reading at 53 parts per million,” SPCA of Texas said. “The litter boxes in the room were overflowing with urine and feces and the cats had resorted to urinating and defecating directly onto the floor.”

The cats were showing signs of illness with varying severity, including coughing and sneezing, flea infestation, weepy eyes with discharge and serious eye infections. “Two of the cats did not have eyes, which can occur when cats have had severe untreated eye infections, causing the eye to rupture,” SPCA of Texas explained. “At least three cats were lethargic, underweight and appeared to have labored breathing. The youngest in the room, a kitten, had a severe ear infection with pus oozing out of its ears. Some of the cats had signs of hair loss and irritated, scabby skin.”

The SPCA of Texas team transported the animals to one of their rescue centers where they are still being medically evaluated and cared for by staff. One of the cats, who was in liver failure when seized, died from Feline Infectious Peritonitis.

“This case is a devastating example of how cruelty and neglect can hide in plain sight, and why intervention is so critical,” SPCA of Texas ACI Unit Chief Investigator Courtney Burns said. “Thankfully, once removed from that toxic environment and given proper medical treatment and compassionate care, these animals began to recover remarkably well. We are deeply grateful to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office for their swift support and commitment to justice for these animals.”