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Visitors to and volunteers at Dogtown Ranch Sanctuary Rescue and Rehab (Dogtown)—a Texas property where more than 100 animals have languished for months and even years—have come forward with documentation of horrendous conditions and cruelty. A recent Houston Press exposé revealed that animals at Dogtown have been found confined in filth, emaciated, deprived of needed veterinary care, and even dying and thrown on burn piles at the “sanctuary.” The report includes information about PETA’s urgent letter to Milam County Sheriff Mike Clore, whose response was that deputies had visited the property in recent months but took no action to help the animals. Clore said that “sanctuary” owner, Angela Sera, was given a few “recommendations” for improvements, despite evidence, including video footage shared with Clore’s office, that shows animals being physically abused, dead animals burned in piles or left to decompose amongst live animals, horses emaciated and with infections requiring veterinary care, and Sera hitting a dog and dragging a badly injured one by a noose around the animal’s throat.
Sick and emaciated animals are allegedly denied needed nutrition and veterinary care at Dogtown. Photo shared with PETA and the sheriff’s office.
Dead dog thrown on burn pile at Dogtown. Photo shared with PETA and the sheriff’s office.
Additional allegations and visual evidence include animals confined to barren metal crates without access to water; animals suffering from oozing eye and skin infections, bloody sores, heartworm disease and intestinal parasites; and animals who have sustained serious injuries from attacks by others. Several animals have allegedly been left to die slowly and in agony at the property, including a dog filmed on the floor of a crowded, dungeon-like area housing many other dogs. His or her body was evidently later thrown on a burn pile (see photo above).
Decomposing bloated remains of a dog in area housing many other live dogs. Still from video shared with PETA and the sheriff’s office.
We’re told that multiple groups of dogs have been sent to Dogtown by nonprofits, including the Jason Heigl Foundation, with large sums of money being paid. One eyewitness said that Sera takes animals specifically for these payments, which are her “primary source of income.”
PETA has urged local law enforcement to take meaningful action in this case but dozens of animals continue to languish at Dogtown.
Please urge Sheriff Clore to take action to secure the removal of and appropriate care for every animal at the Dogtown property and to pursue a criminal investigation and appropriate charges against Sera to prevent her from obtaining more animals.