SPCA of Texas Seizes Eight Cows From Van Zandt Property

Madeline Yeaman Arnold
214-930-1438 (c)
myeaman@spca.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPCA OF TEXAS SEIZES EIGHT COWS FROM VAN ZANDT PROPERTY

(DALLAS, TX; VAN ZANDT COUNTY, TX); February 19, 2021 – The SPCA of Texas and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office seized eight cows, including seven live cows and one deceased cow, from a property in Van Zandt County, Texas. The live cows, including four adults and three calves, and the deceased cow were transported to an offsite veterinary facility, where the live cows were examined by medical staff and a necropsy was performed to determine the cause of death for the deceased cow. The live cows will be cared for at an offsite holding facility until a custody hearing takes place on March 1, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, located at 250 E. Groves St., Canton, TX 75103, the Honorable Judge Sandra Plaster presiding.

To view images on the cows on scene, please visit or copy and paste the following link into your browser: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/47e3ld4p2ie26eh/AAD9H0mkp80MuuuGiOlq3S0qa?dl=0. *WARNING, some of these images are graphic.

The cows were found on a ten-acre pasture, with no access to food or water. The only water source was a pond located on the property that had completely frozen due to the sub-freezing temperatures, therefore it was inaccessible to the cattle. Investigators were unable to identify a source of food on the property to sustain the cows in good health. The deceased cow was determined to have died from starvation, and trash and trash bags were found in its stomach contents.

The SPCA of Texas received a complaint of suspected animal cruelty and was referred the case by the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, February 17. An SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigator visited the property on Thursday, February 18, and upon witnessing the conditions of the animals and the deceased cow, the investigator sought and obtained a seizure warrant. Criminal charges are expected to be filed in this case.

For more information on the SPCA of Texas, please visit www.spca.org. To support the SPCA of Texas and its efforts to rescue, heal and find homes for animals, please visit www.spca.org/give.