TEXAS CITY — The Galveston County Animal Shelter spends much of its time trying to find good, adoptive homes for its furry residents.

That was not an issue Thursday.

A line of would-be adoptive owners extended from the shelter’s front gate to the curb, as people came from as far away as Katy to adopt animals taken from what officials described as a puppy mill last week.

“Puppy mill” is a derisive term to describe a high-volume dog-breeding facility in which the animals are often confined in small cages and bred constantly until they can no longer do so. At that point, they are often killed, left to die or given to animal-rescue groups.

In all, more than 100 animals ended up at the shelter after the seizure. They went fast.

“We only have about 10 of the dogs left,” said county animal services manager Kim Schoolcraft shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday.

As she looked out the shelter’s front door, she added, “And I’m pretty confident we’re going to be able to find homes for them.”

The first person looking to adopt one of the animals showed up about 6 a.m. Thursday. By the time the animal shelter opened at 11 a.m., more than 100 were in line.

People who reached the front of the line received numbers and fliers. The shelter let people in three at a time to begin the adoption process.

The animal shelter won custody of all but four of the animals in a Wednesday hearing before Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Mike Nelson. Animal-control officers described animals kept in filthy conditions with little or no food or water.

Nelson allowed former owner Kathy Nelson to keep four dogs, after she said her personal pets were among the seized animals.

Acting on an anonymous tip that a property in Algoa had dozens of animals, the officers last week seized 87 dogs, 10 sugar gliders and four cats. Some of the dogs were pregnant. Twelve puppies had been born in the shelter as of Thursday, with more due.

The four cats, each about a year old, were among the animals still waiting for homes late Thursday.

The shelter was so popular Wednesday that people were parking across Loop 197 to get there. Schoolcraft called the Texas City Police Department for help. Patrol officers went to the 3400 block of Loop 197 North to monitor traffic and ensure the safety of people crossing the road.

Seabrook resident Sheen-na Trahan Thursday morning had her number and was waiting to adopt a dog.

“I was hoping for a little Yorkie, but they’re already gone,” she said.

Still, Trahan said she was looking forward to finding a furry addition to her home.

Officials at the shelter said one encouraging sign was that some people had expressed willingness to take in older dogs taken from the Algoa raid after hearing the conditions that produced the puppies.

Schoolcraft some were also willing to adopt other animals at the shelter. She said that was a good thing, motioning toward a stray dog found Thursday afternoon and being led into the shelter.

“Unfortunately, we still have animals coming in, and they will need homes, too,” she said.

How to Help

Nearly all of the animals seized in Algoa last week were adopt-ed Thursday. However, county animal services manager Kim Schoolcraft said the county’s animal shelter still had plenty of animals in need of good homes.

She also said the shelter needed donations of canned puppy food and canned cat food.

To make a donation or learn about adopting an animal, visit the shelter, at 3412 North Loop 197 in Texas City.

Related articles:

• Some animals remain from "puppy mill" seizure 03/15/07
• Puppy mill’ animals in shelter’s care 02/22/07
• Texas City Animal Shelter needs help after puppy mill raid 02/18/07
• Shelter Full After Animals Seized 02/17/07

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
409-938-2211 or 409-392-0007
kkoopman@gchd.org