OWNER OF NEGLECTED DOGS FOUND AT PLANTERSVILLE PROPERTY TO FACE CHARGES

  

The Grimes County Sheriff’s Office has announced it will pursue animal cruelty charges against a Houston man, after finding 15 neglected dogs at a property in Plantersville.

27-year-old DeMontrae Beck is being charged with 15 counts of Class A misdemeanor animal abuse, for each of the 15 dogs. Beck could face up to a year in jail per charge and $10,000 in fines per charge.

According to Grimes County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Daniel Wagnon, the Sheriff’s Office expects to serve a warrant within the next few days.

Wednesday, a Grimes County judge ruled that custody of the dogs would go to the Houston Humane Society, who has been providing medical care for them ever since they were removed from the Plantersville property. Beck has 21 days to appeal the judge’s decision.

The case first gained traction over social media, after a video posted last week showed the dogs in poor conditions at a wooded lot. After being evaluated by a veterinarian, the dogs were determined to have been neglected.  Lt. Wagnon said the dogs were “malnourished” and “loaded with fleas”.  He also said several did not have access to drinking water.

Last Friday, the Sheriff’s Office obtained an animal seizure warrant and, with the help of the Houston Humane Society Partners of the Harris County Animal Cruelty Task Force, removed the dogs from the property.

According to authorities, this is not their first time dealing with this owner. In 2018, officials were called out to the property to investigate what was at the time less than ten dogs at the lot.  However, authorities said they were not in a condition that a judge would rule seizure.