Texas: Thirty-five farm animals seized in Kerr Co. investigation; Jenna Lewis, 43, charged with animal cruelty

TEXAS -- Dozens of farm animals are recovering as an animal cruelty investigation in Kerr County continues.

Animal control officers seized a total of 35 animals one week ago: 14 horses, nine chickens, six dogs, four donkeys, one guinea fowl and one billy goat. They all had the same owner but were spread across two locations.

Nearly all the animals had issues, according to Nichole Golden, animal control officer. The horses and donkeys had overgrown hooves.

Many of the animals were malnourished and dehydrated.

“They drank like moths to a flame,” she said. “When they saw that the water was running, they just went straight for those water tanks.”

“This is definitely the worst livestock cruelty case that I have seen,” said Golden, who’s worked in her position for more than seven years.

Reagan Givens, deputy constable, said several people reported the issue to the Kerr County Animal Services Division.

“They weren't sure that anybody was there taking care of the animals,” he said.

Jenna K. Lewis, 43, of Center Point is charged with cruelty to livestock animals. She was released from jail after posting bond.

Fox San Antonio left a message for Lewis; she had not returned our call by late Thursday.

Givens said the circumstances surrounding the neglect were unclear and still under investigation.

Elim Morales, animal control officer, has been reassigned to tending the farm animals, a job that takes eight or nine hours a day

“There was no possible way for these chickens to get out or have any food or water,” Morales said. “They were just in there for who knows how many days.”

A farrier trimmed hooves Thursday. A donkey whose hooves had curled is no longer stumbling but still unsteady on her feet.

One horse’s harness was so tight that scabs had formed. Another horse had a sizeable leg wound.

“She scraped up a lot of her flesh there, and we've been treating it every day, two times a day,” Morales said.

Golden said the community has stepped up to help, donating feed, for example. She said the agency is still in need of feed buckets, water troughs and coastal hay. Anyone interested in helping should call Kerr County Animal Services at (830) 257-3100.

A judge will likely decide Lewis’ fate and the animals’ during a hearing on Monday at 10:30 a.m.

If Animal Services retains custody of the animals, they’ll be put up for adoption for free at the end of the month or in early August, Golden said.

(WOAI - July 14, 2016)