Owners of missing pets encouraged to attend SPCA seizure hearing

Photo courtesy SPCA of Texas.

According to SPCA, "The dog was found to be emaciated and in need of medical attention."

WAXAHACHIE — A court hearing has been set regarding the joint raid by the Ellis County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) and SPCA that resulted in over 70 animals seized from a dog training facility in Waxahachie.

The hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 29 at 2 p.m. in the Ellis County Justice of the Peace Court Precinct 2 located at 701 S. I-35E, Suite 1, near Brookside Rd. and Westgate Dr. in Waxahachie. Justice of the Peace Jackie Miller Jr. will preside over the hearing.

According to Stephanie Knight, Communications Specialist for SPCA of Texas, the purpose of the hearing is to seek permanent removal of the animals from Maximum K-9 and it's owner, Gayle Justice.

Photo courtesy SPCA of Texas.

This cat was found by SPCA and Sheriff's Deputies lying in a room full of filth.

Knight is encouraging residents to attend the hearing who had animals boarded at the Maximum K-9 facility and residents who live in the area who may be missing animals.

Rather than SPCA take permanent custody of all the animals, Knight is hoping that the court and SPCA can identify pet owners at the hearing and the court can immediately rule for pet owners to take custody of their pets. SPCA will seek to take custody of any animals that are not reunited with their owners.

Residents who believe their pet may have been at the Maximum K-9 facility can also call SPCA at 214-461-1850 or send an email to investigations@spca.org.

Maximum K-9 was raided by the ECSO and SPCA on Wednesday after Sheriff's Deputies obtained a warrant following reports of horrendous odors emanating from the property.

"I noticed the horrendous smell of death even pulling up from out of the roadway," an anonymous tipster to the ECSO told Ellis County Citizen in an exclusive interview. "The smell outside was certainly just death. There was no mistaking it, it was death."

Photo courtesy SPCA of Texas.

According to SPCA of Texas, "The dog was housed in a hot room surrounded by other crated dogs."

According to the company's website, the facility provides dog obedience training and boarding services. The business was being run from Justice's home in the 200 block of Panorama Loop in Waxahachie.

According to an ECSO press release, "Sixty-eight dogs, three cats and one parrot were seized and transported by SPCA of Texas to one of its facilities. From 15-20 deceased animals were located on site."

Gayle Justice, 69, was arrested on a class A misdeamenor charge of cruelty to animals and booked into the Wayne McCollum Detention Center at 2:37 p.m. Her bond was set at $1,500 and she was released on a Personal Recognizance Bond.

If you would like to help SPCA of Texas care for the seized animals and other animals like them, you can make a gift at http://www.spca.org/helptheanimals.

Click here to read our previous coverage of the raid on Maximum K-9.