Dozens of animals seized from feed store in Santa Fe

SANTA FE, Texas – Galveston police and animal welfare workers converged on a feed store in Santa Fe Thursday to seize 214 animals.
 
Investigators say three animals were found dead at the store today and Tuesday.
 
The animals were taken from the Santa Fe Feed Store, in the 14400 block of Highway 6, according to the Houston Humane Society.
 
This comes following an investigation into alleged neglect and malnutrition by Bayou Animal Services, an animal control authority based in Dickenson. The agency obtained a court order after finding a dead potbellied pig at the store earlier this week.
 

[READ THE SEARCH WARRANT]

The surviving animals include eight pigs; two goats; a sheep; a donkey; 30 chickens, guinea hens and peacocks; 12 rabbits; 12 snakes along with a bearded dragon, a dog, cats and white mice, according to the search warrant.
 
“When we came out last Tuesday were found animals not being fed, and we did find a deceased potbellied pig in one off the stalls.” said Melvin Trover with Bayou Animal Services.
 
As investigators seized the animals Thursday afternoon, they discovered two more carcasses; those of a bird and a mouse.
 
Store owner Shannon Iven did not comment on those, but said the dead pig found earlier this week was dumped in her parking lot in poor condition, and that she had taken it in to attempt to rescue it.
 
“That pig didn't make it, and they found it was malnourished, and I knew that; I was trying to make it fat, or put weight on it.” Iven said.
 
Longtime customers gathered at the store to defend Iven as the animals were being loaded onto a trailer Thursday afternoon.
 
“We have never seen anything neglected or anything that looked like should be taken away from them.” Janent Roy said.
 
Another, Sheila Morse insisted, “I've never seen a hungry starved animal in there ever, ever.
 
The remaining animals were taken to the Houston Humane Society shelter for evaluation. A hearing has been set by the Galveston Justice of the Peace, precinct 2 for April 8.