60 dogs were found in crates inside a small Lakeside home Wednesday. The home was used as the location for the organization San Diego Boxer Rescue. Most of the dogs were boxers and Chihuahuas.
The dogs were confined in cages stacked two high throughout the 2 bedroom, 750 sq. foot home, said San Diego County spokesman Dan DeSousa. Most of the dogs had injuries to their feet and noses from trying to escape and some had skin and respiratory problems. A lot of the water dishes had no water in them.
Alice Via, 65, was arrested for investigation of animal cruelty and neglect, and misdemeanor counts of failing to provide veterinary care, poor sanitation and having an illegal kennel. Animal Services officers that responded from a complaint they received, said that the Via had become overwhelmed with all the dogs and was taking them out of their crates for only one hour a day.
Via did not have a kennel license and she was not one of the 151 rescue agencies approved by the county. DeSousa said that Via had taken animals from county shelters. "We thought she was an aboveboard rescue and was going to provide good homes for these animals," he said.
County Animal Services Officer Darrell Hanson said, "She basically admitted she got overwhelmed."
All the dogs were taken to a county shelter until officials can get a court order to get them released from Via's control and then they will be put up for adoption.
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