SPCA of Texas Granted Custody of 10 Dogs and 56 Cats Removed from Van Zandt County Property

Rescue Owner Arrested and Charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals—Neglect

DALLAS; VAN ZANDT COUNTY, TEXAS – Following an incomplete request for appeal at a civil custody hearing Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in the Van Zandt County Courthouse (121 E Dallas St, Canton, TX 75103), Van Zandt County Judge Joshua Wintters defaulted to the previous judgement, awarding custody of 66 allegedly cruelly treated animals removed from a metal building owned by Hayley Hull in Van Zandt County to the SPCA of Texas. The organization also was awarded $22,090.75 in restitution.

Hull, who owns and runs “Yelp for Help Animal Rescue,” was arrested Thursday, May 29, 2025, and charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals—Neglect, a Class A misdemeanor. She was booked into the Van Zandt County Jail then released on a $10K bond.

The morning of Monday, May 5, 2025, the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit, along with SPCA of Texas Forensic Veterinarian Shawn Ashley, executed search and seizure warrants for the animals being kept at a property in Eustace, Texas. The team removed 10 allegedly cruelly treated dogs and 56 allegedly cruelly treated cats from a metal building, which appeared to be abandoned, on the property. The grass was overgrown, approximately knee-high, with piles of rotting trash littered throughout the area. When approaching the metal building the SPCA of Texas ACI team noted a distinct odor of ammonia consistent with that of an unnaturally large amount animal urine and feces.

Conditions in the metal building were deplorable with extremely high levels of ammonia. SPCA of Texas measured the ammonia level to be 50 parts per million (ppm) inside of the building. For point of reference, short term exposure to any ammonia level over 20 ppm or long term exposure to any level over 12 ppm can cause health problems in humans.

In the first room of the metal building were 10 dogs—three running loose and seven confined to wire crates. There was urine and feces inside the crates and on the floor. Most of the dogs had diarrhea, and were found positive for the intestinal parasites, hookworms and giardia. The cats and dogs were infested with fleas.

A second room within the metal building was where the cats were being kept. There were stacked wire cages as well as a large cat condo style enclosure in this room but the doors to the cages were open, allowing the cats to roam freely. Fifty-six cats were confined to this small area and the ammonia level was higher, reading at 53 ppm. The litter boxes in the room were overflowing with urine and feces and the cats had resorted to urinating and defecating directly onto the floor.

The cats showed clinical signs of illness, with varying severity, including coughing and sneezing, weepy eyes with discharge and serious eye infections. Two of the cats did not have eyes, which can occur when cats have had severe untreated eye infections, causing the eye to rupture. At least three cats were lethargic, underweight and appeared to have labored breathing. The youngest in the room, a kitten, had a severe ear infection with pus oozing out of its ears. Some of the cats had signs of hair loss and irritated, scabby skin.

The SPCA of Texas ACI Unit determined the cats needed urgent medical attention. All the animals were transported to the SPCA of Texas Russell E Dealey Animal Rescue Center where they have been evaluated and are being cared for by medical and behavioral staff members. One of the cats, who was in liver failure when seized, succumbed to Feline Infectious Peritonitis.

“This case is a devastating example of how cruelty and neglect can hide in plain sight, and why intervention is so critical,” said SPCA of Texas ACI Unit Chief Investigator Courtney Burns, CAWA. “Thankfully, once removed from that toxic environment and given proper medical treatment and compassionate care, these animals began to recover remarkably well. We are deeply grateful to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office for their swift support and commitment to justice for these animals.

“We also are thankful that a community leader stepped up to report suspected animal cruelty as it occurred, ”Burns added. “Please, if you see something that doesn’t seem right or seems harmful to an animal, say something.”

Sunday, May 4, 2025, the SPCA of Texas ACI Unit was contacted by Noah’s Paws Animal Rescue Founder Marcy McAlpin about an alleged animal cruelty situation at Hull’s animal rescue. McAlpin reported that Hull, who worked with her as a Veterinary Technician, had asked her to care for her animals while Hull was out of town; however, she had not provided McAlpin with care instructions or medications for the sick animals. When McAlpin went inside the metal building on May 2^nd, she observed that Hull had approximately 15 dogs and 47 cats confined in crates and within a small room. The next day, she notified the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, who responded on May 3rd. McAlpin stated that many of the animals were malnourished and many of the cats were sick. McAlpin advised the ACI Unit that she could not continue to care for these animals due to the unsanitary conditions and toxic ammonia inside the metal building.

To support the SPCA of Texas’ efforts to rescue, heal and find homes for animals from cases of cruelty and neglect, please visit www.spca.org/GIVE. To learn more and to report suspected animal cruelty or abuse in Van Zandt county, visit https://spca.org/abuse.

About SPCA of Texas

Founded in 1938, SPCA of Texas is a501(c)3 nonprofit animal welfare organization that operates one shelter, one spay neuter clinic, one mobile adoptions vehicle and an animal rescue center all located in Dallas. The organization maintains a team of animal cruelty investigators who rescue hundreds of animals from cruelty each year in North Texas counties. Moreover, the SPCA of Texas serves as an active Resource Center for an array of services that bring people and animals together to enrich each other’s lives

The SPCA of Texas is not affiliated with other with any other entity and does not receive general operating funds from the city of Dallas, state of Texas, federal government or any other national humane organization. SPCA of Texas is dedicated to providing every animal exceptional care in a loving home. To learn more about the SPCA of Texas visit spca.org.

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