Horry County police seized 37 dogs and two birds from a Conway home Thursday, just one day after police seized 146 dogs from another Conway residence.
Eduardo Chaviano, 52, of Conway, is charged with failure to provide proper care to animals, said Lt. Raul Denis. In a separate incident a day earlier police cited a woman for animal cruelty related to animals found at her home.
Chaviano was charged after received a tip that the residents at 7183 Marsh Dr. were holding up to 75 dogs in cages and the home was covered with animal urine and feces, according to the police report.
When police arrived around 2 p.m., a woman opened the door and told officers she only had four dogs then later said she had six dogs, the report said. Police noted an “overpowering smell of urine and feces that came from the residence and also” on the woman.
The female suspect would not allow police into the home to check on the dogs’ well-being, so police made contact with the male homeowner, the report said. Chaviano, the homeowner, originally told police eight dogs were living in the house, then later said he owned 11 dogs.
Chaviano told police he would return home and allow them into the house, but when he arrived he refused entry. Police noted Chaviano was highly intoxicated, the report said.
Police returned with a search warrant and found several dogs running lose in the house along with many more in cages, the report said. The walls, furniture and flooring was covered with urine, feces, cobwebs, animal hair and dust.
A room closed off by a glass sliding door contained dogs in metal cages stacked on top of one another, the report said. The dogs’ fur was matted and covered in feces, and the animals “appeared that they had not been let out of their cages,” the report said.
The animals were taken to the Horry County Animal Care Center and examined, where all were found to be in generally good health, Denis said.
Denis said there is no evidence the dogs were used as a breeding-for-profit operation. The animals are not available for adoption, Denis said.
Chaviano was charged with violating Horry County Ordinance 4-3 and has a court date on March 18, Denis said. The presiding judge will determine the exact fine Chaviano will be ordered to pay, Denis said.
On Wednesday, Horry County police shut down a puppy mill, seizing mostly adult dogs that were living in deplorable conditions, police said.
Renee James, 49, was cited Thursday for animal cruelty and given a $445 ticket, according to a police report. Her court date also is March 18.
Animals were taken from her home after officers received a tip Wednesday about a person who had been breeding a large number of animals and they went to investigate, Denis said. Officers took possession of the animals from the home, which is in the 6000 block of Secondary Highway 65, which is between U.S. 701 North and S.C. 22.
All the dogs seized from James’ home will be cleaned, given vaccinations, heartworm tests, and spayed or neutered before they are put up for adoption on Tuesday. When the dogs are available for adoption they will be listed on the center’s website.
For more information about the adoptable dogs, call the animal care center at 915-5172.
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