Animal Advocacy

ANIMAL ADVOCACY

Two family members charged with 94 counts of animal cruelty

The Palm Valley Animal Society announced the 90-plus pets found in an animal hoarding case have been signed over to their care. Cindy Ann Wells, 55, and Leticia Sanders, 54, were arrested

Man charged with 64 counts of animal cruelty

Just three days after McAllen authorities arrested two cousins in their two story residence, two more tips came regarding another case. Jose Antonio Moli, 63, was identified as the person in connection to hoarding up to 70 animals inside a McAllen residence.

Two family members charged with 94 counts of animal cruelty

The Palm Valley Animal Society announced the 90-plus pets found in an animal hoarding case have been signed over to their care. Cindy Ann Wells, 55, and Leticia Sanders, 54, were arraigned on 94 counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals. McAllen police found 93 dogs and one cat at a residence on Ozark Avenue.

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Man charged with 64 counts of animal cruelty

Just three days after McAllen authorities arrested two cousins accused of hoarding 94 dogs in their two story residence, two more tips came regarding another case. Jose Antonio Moli, 63, was identified as the person in connection to hoarding up to 70 animals inside a McAllen residence.

Living on the outskirts surrounded by Harlingen and San Benito fields, my family and I have witnessed animal dumping more times than I can remember ever since I was little on our long stretch of road. All our five animals are adopted, rescued, or just showed up. Of course, we cannot keep every cat or dog that shows up in our yard, so when we could not keep them, I would search on the Facebook animal groups I am a part of for any fosters, rescues, or even better, an adopter, making sure they went to a good home before. I have saved seven cats/kittens and five dogs in the past six years. One animal I saved almost every year on my road. I have learned that countless people have a good heart for animals, but others hoard or want to harm them. That is what inspired me to create and design this magazine.

Eliana C. Alvarez Designer

TWO FAMILY MEMBERS CHARGED WITH 94 COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY

Palm Valley Animal Society requesting donations over McAllen hoarding case

The Palm Valley Animal Society announced the 90-plus pets found in an animal hoarding case have been signed over to their care.

On March 30, an Uber Eats driver called 911 to report a “smell of death” at the 3400 block of Ozark Avenue.

According to an offense report obtained by ValleyCentral, when the responding officers arrived at the residence they detected a strong odor, which they described as “decomposed flesh.”

Cindy Ann Wells, a resident of the home, spoke with authorities stating she owned 15 dogs and the smell came from the feces that needed to be cleaned up.

When authorities entered the home, they saw 10 dirty dogs in the living room, which was covered with feces and urine stains, the report stated.

The officers said the “odor was so strong and foul they weren’t able to enter the residence further without protective equipment.”

Photo by: Valley Central

Well’s cousin, identified as Leticia Sanders, exited the residence and told police there were some dogs inside but did not know how many.

Authorities arrested both Sanders and Wells on charges of animal cruelty.

Inside the home authorities found 93 dogs and one cat. All the pets were transported to the Palm Animal Society for care.

When the pets come into shelter care, Faith Wright, Palm Valley Animal Society Director of Operations, said the dogs came in matted and some could barely walk, due to their feet being tied together.

Rescue groups and the community came together to foster 88 out of the 93 dogs found inside the home.

On Wednesday, Palm Valley announced on social media that two defendants have

signed the pets into their care.

“The two defendants signed the dogs over and we took possession of all 90 dogs and one cat,” Wright said.

Palm Valley has 13 dogs remaining at the facility but eight of them will be leaving on Tuesday morning for Michigan with the Dog is My Co-Pilot organization.

“Dog is My Co-Pilot is a flight group that comes down and helps different rescuers move animals up north to different locations,” Wright said.

The remaining five dogs and one cat still under Palm Valley’s care are now available for adoption.

Photo by: Valley Central

Photo by: Valley Central

PVAS says those interested in adopting can expect a $50 fee and $50 surgery deposit for dogs who may need to be spayed or neutered.

Photo by: Valley Central

FRONT LINES INTERVIEW

Smell of death resulted in arrest of McAllen cousins; rescue of 94 animals

The two women charged in one of those cases have signed away their rights to the animals.

Cindy Ann Wells, 55, and Leticia Sanders, 54, were arraigned on 94 counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals. McAllen police found 93 dogs and one cat at a residence on Ozark Avenue.

PVAS Director of Operations Faith Wright said Monday that the residency was a two story home and that animal control officers went back and forth to deliver the animals with the help of two trailers as well.

Wright said the biggest issue among the dogs was that most were extremely matted.

“I’m talking like not typical matting, like years of matting,” she said. “Some of them can barely walk because their feet are so overgrown.”

Wright added they are fortunate to have a good amount of groomers assisting with the dogs currently with their own and with groomers from Kirey’s Grooming, Pets A Like, Underdog Pet Grooming and the city of Weslaco contributing.

She said from the total number of dogs rescued, only a pug had a significant injury with a couple of

dogs suffering from heat distress.

Being at the nonprofit for about two years, Wright said she has not encountered something like this.

She said the next step is getting dogs out to fosters and rescues.

“We were not financially prepared to take in (all the dogs) at one time so all donations are super appreciated right now,” Wright said.

According to an offense report obtained by ValleyCentral, the officers walked to the rear of the residence and saw a small patio with a large amount of dog feces and stains of urine.

Wells opened the door and told the police she and her cousin who lived at the residence with her owned 15 dogs together. She assured the officers that the smell was only coming from the feces on the front porch that she needed to clean up.

According to PBS director Faith Wright, most of the animals rescued from the hoarding case have been relocated to other rescue groups. Out of the 94 saved, only 26 dogs remain at the shelter.

The animals have received grooming and care thanks to the efforts of local organizations and volunteers.

“It’s been a tough weekend. We saw dogs in the worst shape ever, and now we have happy tears seeing them come back, some of them able to walk now when they couldn’t before due to matted feet,” Wright shared, expressing the emotional journey of the rescue operation.

The majority of the dogs have been taken in by rescue shelters from San Antonio, New York, and Virginia, providing relief to the already overcrowded center.

The center is working to contact owners of several microchipped dogs, and some individuals have already visited the shelter in hopes of finding their lost pets. In the

meantime, the Palm Valley Animal Society is calling for community support through monetary donations to aid in the care and rehabilitation of the remaining animals.

To contribute to this cause, you can contact the shelter at (956) 686-1141. For more updates on this case and other local news, stay tuned to foxrgv.tv.

On April 1, both women were arraigned on 94 charges of animal cruelty and their bonds were set at $188,000 each.

On April 10 and April 11, Sanders and Wells were respectively released on bond, according to the Hidalgo County Jail records.

Photo by: McAllen PD and Valley Central

Photo by: McAllen PD and Valley Central

HOW TO...

Make plant-based pet treats for pawsitive change

Pumpkin Blueberry Dog Treats

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup flour (We recommend rice flour; you can purchase it or make it by blending uncooked rice. Whole-wheat flour or even all-purpose flour will work too.)

• 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree

• 2 flax eggs*

• 2 teaspoons liquid sweetener 1/3 cup peanut butter (Choosea brand without xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.)

• 1/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, pumpkin, flax eggs, sweetener and peanut butter and mix until you get a soft, even dough.

3. Add blueberries and gently mix to incorporate.

4. Mold into 24bite-sized treats. You can either use oven-safe bite-size silicone molds or use your hands to roll the dough into small balls.

5. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden.

6. Let cool before sharing with your furry friend. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

*To make one flax egg, combine 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons warm water and whisk thoroughly. Let sit for 5 minutes, until the mixture thickens to a gel-like consistency

Crunchy Tuna Cat Treats

INGREDIENTS

• 210g tuna in vegetable oil

• 3/4 cup rye flour (normal whole meal flour is fine)

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

• Water

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.

2. Mix tuna, rye and parsley together well, breaking up tuna pieces so they are soft and mushy.

3. Add water gradually, as is needed to make a firm dough that is easy to mould into a small shape.

4. Roll a teaspoon-sized amount of the dough between your palms, creating a small round ball. Flatten the ball so it becomes disc-shaped.

5. Repeat process until all mixture is used, placing each biscuit disc onto a lightly greased oven tray.

6. Bake in your 180°C oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

7. Turn oven off, though leave tray in until oven has completely cooled. (This will help to dry out the biscuits further, and therefore help the treats keep for longer).

8. When biscuits have cooled completely, they are ready to serve. Handy as an occasional treat, and/or an addition to your pet's everyday dry food.

9. Store treats in an air-tight container in the pantry.

BROWSE & SUPPORT

Everyone can do something to help save a life!

The magic of adoption at PetSmart on 10th and Trenton tomorrow & Sunday from 12:30 - 5:30 p.m., where we'll be hosting an adoption event!

Our pups are ready to charm their way into your heart. But even if you're not quite ready to bring a furry friend home, we invite you to stop by and share their sweet little faces on your social media pages to help them find their perfect match.

Whether you're seeking a new addition to your family or simply want to spend time with our wonderful pets, we hope to see you there!

The Pawjama Party Program, offering a chance to foster a shelter dog for up to 4 nights—for free! It's a win-win opportunity to give them a break from kennel life and possibly find your new furry friend.

This weekend join the festivities in person from 5 to 10 p.m. at Laurie P. Andrews Center. Come dressed in your comfiest PJ's and indulge in delicious food, bounce around in the moonjump, enjoy Beary Boba's tasty drinks, and meet the lovable animals at the Santuario Petting Zoo. See you there!

Don't miss out! Join us for a FREE microchip clinic with the City of McAllen at City Hall Parking Lot on Saturday, April 27th, from 9 AM to 12 PM. Let's be responsible pet owners and ensure our pet's safety by getting them microchipped!

Please bring proof of residency in McAllen, and remember, pets should be 6 weeks or older!

We can not save them all... But we can try.

Photo by: Palm Valley Animal Shelter

MAN CHARGED WITH 68 COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY

McAllen man kept 61 cats, 6 dogs, a parrot and a turtle in terrible conditions, affidavit says

Just three days after McAllen authorities arrested two cousins accused of hoarding 94 dogs in their two story residence, two more tips came regarding another case.

First, the neighbor of a 63-year-old McAllen resident Jose Antonio Moli called police to report that there was loud barking coming

from inside the man’s home and that his “trash can is always overflowing possibly with animal feces.”

PVAS Director Faith Wright said the cats that were rescued were in bad shape.

"They have ear mites where the ears have

Photo by: Palm Valley Animal Shelter | Facebook

been eaten out by the mites, and there are a lot of skin conditions and hair loss,” Wright said.

The dogs that were rescued were a little overweight with long nails, but were overall healthy.

“The house was very, very smelly,” Wright added. “I just feel for the animals… I worry about the human that brought them to this."

This is the second home to be raided for animal hoarding in a week. Last week, two women were arraigned after more than 90 animals were removed from a home..

Channel 5 spoke to the woman who called authorities to let them know what was going on inside this house. She says she felt compelled by what she saw and smelled.

Jordan said, “I don’t get how these situations get like this or what goes through these people’s minds thinking that it’s okay living like this and seeing your pets in kennels and their own feces.

Jordan is an animal lover she has several dogs of her own and fosters others she says she got an anonymous message on Facebook telling her to drive through Fern Avenue in McAllen as soon as she drove by she knew why.

“The smell of the house you could smell from the backyard and literally from standing on the street.”

Along with the smell, something else also caught her attention. Dozens of animals cooped up in cages.

"The crates were stacked and some sort of little makeshift pond with turtles in it.”

She just wants people to speak up and you need to speak up when you smell it, when you sense it, when you have any concern. Speak up

Photo by: Palm Valley Animal Shelter | Facebook

Photo by: Palm Valley Animal Shelter

FRONT LINES INTERVIEW

PVAS granted care for 90+ animals in hoarding case

Jose Antonio Moli, 63, was identified as the person in connection to hoarding up to 70 animals inside a McAllen residence.

Moli faces 68 counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals, according to McAllen police.

His bond is set at $2,000 for each count, totaling up to $136,000.

A warrant was issued to raid the residence Thursday afternoon on the 300 block of West Fern Avenue in McAllen.

The Director of Operations with the Palm Valley Animal Society says there were 64 cats, six dogs, one parrot and one turtle inside the residence.

Police made contact with the man, who said he had known Moli for about a decade. The man told police that Moli had about 80 cats and several dogs in his home, which was poorly maintained. He also told police that Moli “‘plays vet,’” meaning that Mr. Moli has syringes and medicine for when

the animals get sick.”

He also said Moli had called him when some of his animals had died. As for that pond, the man said that Moli once had 100 turtles in it, but they all died due to disease.

Later that day, police arrested Moli for disregarding a stop sign and for having a defective tail light, according to the affidavit.

A detective made contact with Moli at an interview room at the pool department and asked for permission to check the inside of his home, which Moli denied. So, police obtained a search warrant.

This is the second case of animal hoarding in McAllen in the past week.

The animals were taken to the Palm Valley Animal Society. The shelter is calling for donations and fosters for the animals.

Photo by: McAllen PD and Valley Central