29 dogs rescued from same Alabama home where 82 were confiscated in January

FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) — Florence Lauderdale Animal Services is closed for the remainder of Tuesday due to a large intake of dogs.

According to a Facebook post, “Due to a large intake of dogs, Florence Lauderdale Animal Services will be closed for the remainder of the day. We appreciate your understanding and support as our team works to care for these animals. We will reopen tomorrow on our regular schedule. PLEASE CALL 911 IN THE EVENT OF AN ANIMAL RELATED EMERGENCY,” the shelter said.

The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office said 29 dogs were confiscated from a house on County Road 6. One dog had a newborn and several other dogs are pregnant.

The animal shelter is not allowing fostering or adoption at this time and the dogs are all getting checked Wednesday.

The sheriff said this is the same house from which 82 dogs were confiscated from in January.

LCSO said animal control received several complaints that Teresa Counce had a large number of dogs again. She was previously charged in February with cruelty to animals and agreed to relinquish ownership of the dogs to the animal shelter. Part of the agreement also granted the sheriff’s office to search the property without a warrant.

When investigators arrived at the property, LCSO said they were unable to make contact with anyone at the house but that the investigators could hear multiple dogs barking inside a metal shed.

“Investigators made entry into the shed and located 29 dogs inside living in the same conditions as the previous seizure. Animal control officers took possession of the dogs to assess their medical conditions. This investigation is ongoing,” LCSO said.