~ANIMAL RESCUE WATCHDAWGS~ Protecting Those Who Have No Voice: Teresa Weldon and Others- FOUR PAWS AND HOOVES- Springtown, Texas

Teresa Weldon, owner of Four Paws and Hooves Rescue had 58 dogs seized from her home that she shared with four other adults in Springtown area, Texas May 2012. Ultimately, three dogs were euthanized shortly after authorities seized them in May (2 adults and one puppy) and then five puppies died a few days later, Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said after the canines were taken away.

Two dogs, a puppy and a PitBull adult were euthanized due to severe neglect and health conditions as a result of the living conditions. A one year old child was found in his crib surrounded by animal feces as well, and charges for child endangerment were filed. Teresa Weldon is also a former animal control officer, so I am sure she was well aware these conditions were not acceptable.

Thirty-one of the seized dogs were found living in their own feces and urine in crates, some stacked one on top of the other inside the home, lead sheriff’s office investigator John Qualls reported.

“The conditions were so poor that it created a serious health hazard for the occupants as well,” Qualls said. “There was an overwhelming foul odor of dog feces which was detectable from outside the residence. It was extremely unhealthy for both humans and animals.”

The dogs inside the house were without any food or water. The animals outside on the property did have some water/food but several outdoor pens containing puppies were filled with animal feces, urine and even vomit.

Teresa Weldon, the property owner, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Tarrant County on a theft of property by check charge. Weldon was charged with multiple accounts of animal cruelty.

Weldon was allowed to adopt animals from an out-of-county animal shelter in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex without a proper background check, the sheriff’s office reported.

It wasn’t clear which animal shelter the dogs were adopted from, but some have said Arlington Shelter in Arlington Texas as well as Weatherford Shelter and Fort Worth Animal Shelter to name a few.

Prior to the raid on Weldon's property, since July 2011, the county responded to five additional animal calls at her residence. No reports were ever made though.

“A child endangerment case is being investigated, with pending charges for additional individuals living inside the residence,” Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Lt. Mark Arnett said, “Child Protective Services was notified immediately for obvious poor environmental conditions which was alarmingly
unhealthy for the child. CPS ruled the scene as unsuitable.”