Forty-six dogs are safe after being rescued from what officials describe as an “unimaginable” hoarding situation within Llano city limits. The animals were removed from a rental property on October 24 in coordination with Llano Animal Control, Llano Police Department and Llano Animal Rescue (LAR).
The property is a rental home, and the tenant, James Lee Owens, has been the subject of similar concerns in the past. Officials said this marks the second - possibly third - instance of animal cruelty involving the same individual. Animal Control, the County Attorney’s Office, and local law enforcement worked closely together to ensure the operation was handled thoroughly and correctly.
“Very few of these cases are prosecuted in the city of Llano, and none successfully, so we wanted to make sure we got it right,” said Animal Control Officer, Cat Ray. “The house was uninhabitable, but neighbors reported seeing the occupants occasionally.”
