Three dogs were rescued and a fourth was found dead after being left outside in freezing temperatures on a property in southeast Houston, authorities said. The dogs had been chained and exposed to the cold, according to Click2Houston.
The Houston SPCA and Harris County Constable Precinct 1 rescued three dogs that were malnourished and shivering in the cold, and a necropsy showed extreme malnourishment contributed to the death of another dog. An emergency warrant allowed the SPCA to provide medical care, and a court hearing will decide the custody of the rescued animals.
Constable Alan Rosen said, "With animal ownership comes animal responsibility," referring to the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, which requires owners to provide shelter, water, and proper tethering, as per KHOU. Authorities are investigating potential criminal charges and ask the public to report animal cruelty, with the SPCA providing a hotline at 713-869-7722.
