This woman had 56 dogs in her house. Some were stacked one on top of the other. Dogs had feces on top of each other. She had two teenage girl that one stated 'she could not walk across the floor without stepping in dog feces'. Charges of child endangerment have been filed against her. The girls were sleeping on bunk beds. The bedding on the girl's bottom bed was filthy from dogs sleeping on it. The girls have been taken by protective services and the dogs have placed in the Animal Shelter. CPS specialist said "the smell of dog urine and feces was horrific" even outside the home.
Several Texas residents from across the state have called police, claiming they recognized their stolen pets in news coverage of the seizure, police stated. Those reports will be investigated.
Update #49 years ago
All of the doggies have been placed with rescue volunteers. Nine were returned to their owners. The judge still has to rule on the matter of the charges against Ms. Barrier. Four dogs are in question. She cannot be allowed to have those.
See C2NN News for my story about one of these little dogs. Click on Animals and A NEW SET OF WHEELS will be the 2nd one. Please note and leave a comment.
Your signatures are being forwarded to the JP in this case.
HUGS FROM TEXAS
Update #39 years ago
IN COURT 2/17/15, MS BARRIER WON'T CONTEST CPS CUSTODY OF KIDS.
She said she hopes they will be able to live with a maternal uncle in Ok. Additional charges could be filed. In one case, she 'purchased' one of the dogs then stopped payment on the check.
Update #29 years ago
52 OF THE 56 DOGS WILL NOT BE RETURNED
Court ordered Ms. Barrier to pay $8,500 spent by Waco Animal Shelter for care, food and medical services. 10 of the 52 dogs have microchips. 7 of them have confirmed owners in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Penn. and from within TX..
Chief Devin said "There is indication of deception that Ms. Barrier may have assisted in being a courier for some of these animals from point A to point B, and she never took them to point B. She kept them".
Update #19 years ago
'DOG HORDER' FACES NEW CHARGES.
Melanie Barrier, 56, was taken to McLennan County Jail on Wednesday, Hewitt Police Chief Delvin said. She was released Thursday on a $16,000 bond.
Another doc. filed Wed. alleges that the girls, ages 12 and 14, suffered bloody dog bites from incidents in which '"the dogs would sometimes get in fights and they would have to break them up".
Ten counts of animal cruelty charges were filed Thursday. At lease six so for have microchips, Delvin said.
