Dallas police officer, Kandy Standige, arrested on animal cruelty charges

TEXAS -- A Dallas police officer was arrested for animal cruelty on Monday after she allegedly had dogs locked in her home without proper food or water.

According to a news release from the Italy Police Department, they received a call about the dogs on Saturday.

On Monday, they made contact with the homeowner, Dallas Police Officer Kandy Standige, 50. She agreed to remove the animals from her home, and she temporarily moved them to her mother's home.

Later that evening, after seeing the dogs' condition, police said they took Standige into custody and charged her with animal cruelty, a Class A misdemeanor.

"You could see the skin and bones of them," said Italy Police Chief Shawn Martin.

It is unusual for a police officer to be arrested, but officials in Italy say it was necessary.

"It's something that you never want to do. But when somebody violates the law, then they have to be accountable," Martin said, "just like anybody else."

According to the release, the dogs "were shown to be in poor health and [Standige] failed to provide necessary care for the dogs."

Ellis County Animal Control was called in to take temporary custody of six dogs and one goat. On Tuesday, the animals were placed in the care of the SPCA of Dallas.

"They have not been loved in a long time, so they're not sure about people quite yet," said Stephanie Knight, communication specialist with SPCA.

According to a SPCA of Dallas press release, the dogs "were cruelly confined inside of a feces-filled, urine-soaked house on the property," and the goat was found in the backyard.

"The animals appear to have varying health issues, including hair loss, and were covered in urine, feces, ticks and fleas," the SPCA said.

A custody hearing for the animals will be held on Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. in Waxahachie.

(KHOU - Aug 5, 2015)