BIXBY, Okla. – More than 60 animals are being treated after the Humane Society of Tulsa rescued them from a home where they were all living.
@Tulsapets rescuing 68 dogs from Bixby couple who tried running a rescue from their home. @KJRH2HD pic.twitter.com/oeq9yBv9q4
— Will DuPree (@willrdupree) June 21, 2016
Animal Control and Bixby police were called to investigate at a home where Yvonne McBride, 49, kept 68 dogs and four cats without obtaining a kennel license. Authorities say when they reached the house, no one answered the door, but they could see a woman hitting one of the many dogs with a stick.
After asking the woman to stop hitting the dog, the officers say they noticed her trying to leave the home through the garage door. When they approached the woman, later identified as McBride, they asked her about not answering the door, and she told them she didn’t answer because she didn’t want the officers to take away the dogs.
Authorities say animal control previously approached McBride about the number of dogs being kept in the home.
After being granted access to the inside of the home, officers say they found multiple kennels within the home.
A family member of McBride's calls the animal cruelty charge she faces "ridiculous." The family member said McBride would never abuse any of the animals, and spent thousands making sure they were well cared for.
McBride and her husband agreed to relinquish all the animals to the Humane Society of Tulsa, and staff members and volunteers began taking them in and evaluating their health Tuesday morning.
Gina Gardner, president of the Humane Society of Tulsa, said the couple tried to run an animal rescue from their home, but the operation got out of control despite their best intentions.
"This is a situation of somebody with a really good heart who loves animals, who wanted to do rescue work," Gardner said. "They wanted to find animals homes. They just continually took in more and more animals without placing them and turned their home into a haven for rescue dogs that they weren't equipped to take care of."
The humane society is setting up an emergency shelter just to house the dogs rescued in Bixby. That shelter is located at 133rd and Memorial in Bixby.
Gardner said her group is now in desperate need of monetary donations and pet supplies, like dog food, bowls, collars and towels.
"If anybody out there has anything that they can give us," Gardner said, "we'd be most appreciative, and the dogs will really benefit from that."
Information on adoptions and donations can be found here.
Dogs mostly large breeds rescued from Bixby home. @KJRH2HD pic.twitter.com/eQleR8YkSv
— Will DuPree (@willrdupree) June 21, 2016
@Tulsapets setting up emergency shelter to house all 68 dogs. Now in desperate need of donations. @KJRH2HD pic.twitter.com/H64LfSzUDk
— Will DuPree (@willrdupree) June 21, 2016
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