Með 237 hunda heimahjá sér

A complaint from a visiting workman led to the discovery on Tuesday of 237 dogs living inside a 70-year-old woman's Southside home.

Corpus Christi Animal Care Services department officers spent about six hours wrangling the dogs -- mostly Pomeranians with some Yorkshire terriers, two standard poodles and several others. Officers took the dogs to the city's kennel, said Kelli Copeland, the department's manager.

It is a violation of a city ordinance to have more than six animals at a residence unless a property owner secures a kennel license. It was unclear Tuesday night if the homeowner would face charges. The woman who lived in the home in the 6000 block of Edgewater Drive told authorities she bred the dogs, Copeland said, and the woman likely has been acquiring dogs for years. Most of the animals appeared to be adequately fed, but many appeared to be suffering from the close quarters.

"They had plenty of food and plenty of water but were not living in healthy conditions," Copeland said. "Many were covered in feces and urine. I think she slowly accumulated them to where they were more than she could handle."

Of the 237 dogs, 236 will be housed in the city's kennel until a hearing in court likely to be scheduled Dec. 27 or Dec. 28. Officials had to euthanize one of the dogs because of its poor condition. The woman told authorities the dog recently wandered to the house.

The city plans to ask for custody of the dogs so they can be given to animal rescue groups. The animal care department first was told about the dogs from a workman called to the home who complained Monday after visiting.

Monday's complaint was the first against the woman, who likely will face several citations from the city, Copeland said. She could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

"The homeowner is a very nice lady; I think she loved her dogs," Copeland said.

Contact David Kassabian at 886-3778