LAKESIDE, Calif.—
San Diego County Animal Services rescued about 60 neglected dogs from a 2-bedroom home in Lakeside Wednesday.Animal control officers and local authorities arrested Alice Via, 65, on suspicion of cruelty to animals after discovering the 60 dogs in her home in rural East County.
"Living in squalid conditions -- they're kept in crates, basically from what we're told, 23 hours a day. They're left outside for maybe half an hour," said Dan DeSousa, a spokesperson for the county Animal Services Department.
Via lives on 11600 block of Moreno in Lakeside. The dogs were confined in crates stacked several high in various rooms of her approximately 750-square-foot house. They had plenty of food but lacked enough water, according to County Animal Services.
The majority of the dogs are Boxers, some Chihuahuas and a few other dog breeds, DeSousa said. All of the animals were taken to local animal shelters for treatment.
"Many of the dogs have skin conditions, upper respiratory disease or other illnesses,'' DeSousa said."In addition, most ... have injuries to their feet and noses from trying to escape from their crates.''
Via is in charge of an organization called San Diego Boxer Rescue and sheltered animals on her fenced-in property. Officials believe that she had good intentions in sheltering the dogs, but the situation spiraled out of control.
"That's not the life for an animal, plain and simple."
Animal services said they were aware of the dogs' condition from a tip from a person wanting to see a dog. According to DeSousa, Via faces possible felony charges of animal neglect, and 60 counts of failure to provide veterinary care.
"She also has issues as an illegal kennel. You can only have six adult dogs on property. She has 10times that number," said DeSousa.
Neighbors of Via said they had no idea there were 60 dogs at her home.
"Surprising seems to be the word, very surprising, that something like that was going on 50 feet away," neighbor David Ensall said .
The dogs will remain at the county animal shelters in Bonita, Carlsbad, and Mission Valley. Animal services said the dogs will remain there as "evidence". There is no timetable on when or if the dogs will be allowed for adoption.
