Dozens of dogs who were all living together have new homes just in time for Christmas!
All 75 dogs seized from a home near Strasburg last week have been adopted or placed with rescue groups, officials said Wednesday.
The majority of the dogs are Irish, English and Gordon Setters.
Investigators say the owner, Robert Attleson, was operating a pet animal facility without a license. Officials said the state declined to renew his license because the house where the owner kept the dogs didn't meet standards set by the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA).
Attleson, who told Denver 7 that he was taking care of rescued dogs, continued the operation.
In September, the Department was awarded a temporary restraining order which required Attleson to reduce the number of dogs to 15 - the limit allowed without a license.
He was given until mid-October to comply.
When inspectors visited the property shortly afterward, they found 96 dogs.
"He had around 25 - 30 dogs in one room," said Adams County Director of Public Information Jim Siedlecki.
Fisher said that on December 7, the judge issued a permanent injunction against the owner, requiring him to reduce the number to 15 or to relinquish them.
That's when animal control officers moved in and began loading the dogs into trucks.
"The animals are in pretty good condition considering that there were 90+ dogs living in one house," Siedlecki said.
When asked if the owner will face criminal charges, Fisher said, "No, there were no allegations of animal cruelty. It was a civil case that was filed."
But Fisher added that Attleson could face sanctions from the court for contempt.
The agencies below worked together to find new homes for the dogs:
- Adams County Animal Shelter
- Aurora Animal Shelter
- Denver Animal Shelter
- Dumb Friends League
- Foothills Animal Shelter
- Humane Society of Boulder Valley
-
Larimer Humane Society