Community Police & Fire
68 dogs seized from home in Lakebay
Pierce County Animal Control officers and Sheriff’s Department deputies rescued 68 dogs from a home in Lakebay on July 18, the department said on social media this week.
One of the puppies died on the way to an animal hospital. Two others were euthanized following the raid, the department wrote.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office posted this photo on Twitter of a dog seized from a home in Lakebay.
A person who purchased a King Charles spaniel puppy notified law enforcement of potential problems at the home, the department wrote in a blog post. The King Charles had tested positive for parvovirus, an extremely contagious disease that targets dogs’ gastrointestinal systems and white blood cells.
68 Dogs Seized with Warrant
On 7/18/24 Animal Control Officers and Pierce County Deputies served a search warrant on a home in the Peninsula area in Lakebay. Many were sick and tested positive for Parvovirus.
Full Post:https://t.co/NRIOOvvnVx pic.twitter.com/PHn6b9f460
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) August 13, 2024
Officers and deputies found the 68 dogs caged inside a doublewide mobile home. “Approximately 4-6 female dogs with litters of puppies (were) loose inside the trailer … and there was no water,” according to the blog post.
Officers described many of the dogs as sick and lethargic. Animal Control took them to an animal hospital for treatment.
Dogs mostly now in foster homes
The Sheriff’s Department released the surviving dogs to The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rescue Trust, according to Deputy Carly Cappetto. Most are now with foster homes.
Cappetto said in an email that three of the dogs had puppy litters when deputies seized them. Four more were pregnant.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office posted this photo on Twitter of dogs seized from a home in Lakebay.
Several had parvovirus. Veterinarians placed them in insolation and monitored them. Forty-eight of the dogs had to be shaved due to the condition of their coats.
“The reason we moved forward with a search warrant so quickly was because this offender was already known to us from three previous animal cases where animals had to be removed,” Cappetto wrote in an email response to Gig Harbor Now’s questions.
Prosecutors reviewing possible charges
Deputies forwarded animal cruelty allegations to the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office for review and charging.
Adam Farber of the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said attorneys are still reviewing the case. Veterinary exams and necropsies will be crucial to any possible charges.
“The dogs were all seized, and the surviving dogs are all safe and receiving appropriate care,” Farber wrote in an email to Gig Harbor Now.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office posted this photo on Twitter of dogs seized from a home in Lakebay.