LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — A district attorney in Alabama has filed a complaint asking for approval for 29 dogs taken from a home in July to be adopted — at the expense of their former owners.
On July 1, 29 dogs were confiscated from the home of Steven Reynolds & Teresa Counce on County Road 6 in Lauderdale County. Later, while in the custody of the Florence-Lauderdale Animal Shelter, four puppies were born.
The Lauderdale County District Attorney filed a lawsuit on July 23, asking a judge to allow those dogs to be adopted.
The complaint said Reynolds and Counce “have demonstrated a complete inability to properly care for said dogs.” The Lauderdale County Sheriff told Nexstar’s WHNT that this was the same house from which 82 dogs were confiscated from in January.
Authorities have since launched a criminal investigation into the pair, according to court documents.
One of the exhibits in the lawsuit provides the original narrative from lead investigator Macy Hughes when they arrived at the house the second time.
“Sergeant [Dylan] Hogue and myself forced entry inside the shed and located 29 dogs. There were multiple dogs inside metal-wired crates and some of the dogs did not have access to food and water. I could smell a strong odor of urine and feces inside the shed,” Hughes detailed.
As part of the order asking for authorization of the dogs’ adoptions, the DA is also asking that Reynolds and Counce be held financially responsible for expenses related to the housing, care and provisions for the dogs.
LCSO told WHNT that before the July search where the dogs were rescued, animal control had received several complaints that Counce had a large number of dogs again. She was charged in February with cruelty to animals and agreed to relinquish ownership of the dogs to the animal shelter as part of a plea agreement.
Part of the agreement also granted the sheriff’s office to search the property without a warrant.
When investigators arrived at the property for the July search, LCSO said they were unable to make contact with anyone at the house but that the investigators could hear multiple dogs barking inside a metal shed.
“Investigators made entry into the shed and located 29 dogs inside living in the same conditions as the previous seizure. Animal control officers took possession of the dogs to assess their medical conditions. This investigation is ongoing,” LCSO said.
To be considered to foster one of the dogs, pending court approval, Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services said this form must be 100 percent completed to be considered. Here is the link to the form if you are interested in fostering a dog, pending court approval.
