Authorities seize more than 100 dogs, cats from SW Houston home

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- One hundred seven animals -- dogs, puppies and four kittens -- were seized Thursday from a rental home about a mile from the Galleria in southwest Houston.

The SPCA and Precinct 1 deputy constables began their investigation earlier, taking 17 animals from the house in an industrial area off Chimney Rock on Tuesday. Today, they returned for the rest.

The operation took more than five hours. "It was in deplorable condition," said Constable Alan Rosen. "It smelled horribly inside the residence and we're working with the SPCA to seize all the animals and file cruelty charges against the person who was keeping these animals."

That person identifies himself as Rick Aaron. He said he's been living in the house without a lease, and took in animals from the street to save them.

He said he did not have the money to have them spayed or neutered. "They just got away from me. I tried to get them fixed, but I couldn't, and they started breeding and it got out of control."

One person involved in the seizure said the animals appear to have been fed, but the conditions in which they were living was bad. Some of the dogs are said to have chewed holes in the sheetrock, and were sleeping inside the walls of the house.

The landlord had been trying to evict Aaron. The locks have now been changed on the house.

A hearing will be held next week to decide temporary custody of the animals. Because it's a large seizure, the SPCA said any donations would help with the medical care of the animals.