Animal Lovers Still Angry a Year Later

HOUSTON - Animal lovers across the country say they're outraged by a local case.

They want justice for 33 Cocker Spaniels found living in deplorable conditions last year in Rosenberg.

Fox 26 first told you about the dogs' rescue in June of 2009. All but one survived. At the time, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office told us animal cruelty charges would be filed against those responsible for their care.

But a year later, no one has been charged with a crime. Now there's a grass roots effort online to move the case forward. A facebook group called "Justice for the Rosenberg 33" boasts almost 400 members.

The case began in May 2009 with an anonymous tip to the Houston SPCA. The agency, working with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office, executed a warrant and removed the animals from a shed behind a home in Rosenberg.

Investigators say the shed didn't have proper ventilation. It also contained no food nor clean water. The dogs were filthy and malnourished. Many had yeast infections and were covered in maggots.

At the SPCA, volunteers removed pounds of matted hair soaked in animal waste and began nursing them back to health.

"They looked like some kind of monsters from the sea," said Karen Temple, member of the Cocker Spaniel Rescue of East Texas-Houston.

Temple helped give the dogs a makeover. She says the animals used to be show dogs. They were living on the property of a dog breeder, but investigators say there were several different owners of the dogs.

"Everyone just assumed action would be taken," said Temple.

Last month Animal Cops: Houston profiled one of the rescued dogs, Cinderfella. The segment renewed outrage, this time across the country.

"The ball was dropped, somewhere and somehow," said Temple.

Temple says hundreds of people are emailing the Fort Bend County Sheriff and district attorney demanding action.

Turns out the Fort Bend County Sheriff's deputy assigned to the case suffered a severe injury shortly after the dogs' rescue and was out of work for months, leaving no one assigned to the case.

Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healey says he's pleased so many activists have written him because he was not aware of the case.

During a phone conversation, Healey said he met with the deputy and SPCA last week to go over the evidence. The case is now in the hands of one of his prosecutors.

"We are passionate about animal cruelty cases. We have prosecuted them in the past and will continue to do so," said Healey.

"We need to send a message to other owners and breeders that we're not going to allow this in the greater Houston area," said Temple.

The owner of one of the rescued dogs, Dolly, says life for his pup is far removed from the den of horror she once called home.

"She sleeps where she wants to, on the couch, the recliner or in the bed," said Ricky Spell.

The district attorney's office has two years to file charges. Animal cruelty is a Class A misdemeanor.

The Cocker Spaniel Rescue Group of East Texas-Houston currently has 120 animals needing homes.

You can visit their website at www.cockerkids.org