Pit bulls left starving in abandoned backyard

TEXAS -- A story that proves the power of social media: A woman posted a picture on Facebook, calling attention to several dogs abandoned in the backyard of an Austin home. And we were there as animal control officials arrived.

"These six dogs are in our south Austin neighborhood. Abandoned house, kitty cat in the house at the window. Starving dogs. We've fed and watered through the fence. Called 311 (The 311 service request number for animal control is 13-00168242. ) yesterday and then 911 this morning a couple of times. Cops "drove by" at 10 am but no one will tell us what the next step is. In the mean time, it's 100 degrees again and it is highly likely that these dogs have been in that situation for 3 weeks or more. One "miss pittie" is able to get out and about and is how my neighbor was led to the house in the first place yesterday. Very friendly, but becoming food aggressive as they are starving! Any suggestions welcomed!"

It was apparent the dogs were starving to death.

Senior Animal Protection Officer Dave Ackerman said, "You can see their ribs, you can see their hips."

At first he couldn't take the dogs. "I can't legally enter their property, its private property, it's a fenced yard and I can't enter it legally," Ackerman said.

APD's Animal Cruelty division went out in the morning to investigate and by 3 p.m., Animal Protection went to the home to pick up the six dogs.

After a few more calls, Ackerman got the green light to take the dogs to the shelter.

The Austin Police Department's Animal Cruelty Division tracked down the dog's owner who surrendered the animals.

 

Most of the dogs went without a fight, but others took a little more work.

In all, officer Ackerman took in about five dogs.

Neighbors say the homeowners hadn't lived in the home for nearly two weeks.

James McFeeley says, "They left the dogs and I think they had their electricity shut off and they had to go someplace."

He says the owners have come around, but he adds, "It's hot and they were skin and bones, so they weren't coming over here enough."

Animal control was unable to catch one of the dogs.

The APD is now taking over the case. The dogs are being kept at the Austin Animal Shelter and will be available for adoption soon.

(KEYE - Sept 6, 2013)