Texas Couple With 10 Dead Dogs in Truck Get Felony Animal Cruelty Charges

There is never an excuse to abuse animals, and this is a truly disturbing case.

It's also a perfect example of why some people should never be allowed to have pets. A Texas couple is facing multiple felony charges for a horrifying discovery that was made inside their truck while they were in another state.

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KWTX is reporting that Scott Thomas McCaffrey and Tambra Lynn Clift of Weslaco, Texas have both been charged with animal cruelty. Deputies in North Carolina found 10 dead dogs in the back of their rented box truck that died because of negligence. While it's not clear what specifically caused the dogs to die, McCaffrey and Clift were identified as the operators of the truck.

Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields said both McCaffrey and Clift were charged with 10 felony counts of cruelty to animals. The two are being held at the Moore County jail under a $30,000 bond.

Texas Civil and Criminal Laws Protecting Animals

In Texas, two types of laws protect animals from cruelty: civil laws and criminal laws, according to the SPCA of Texas.

If prosecuted in a criminal case, a person can receive fines, jail, community service,  and/or probation. Those under the age of 18 are also required to undergo counseling if convicted of animal cruelty. As of 2001, animal cruelty convictions are classified as either a felony or misdemeanor. Felony animal cruelty is punishable by a $10,000 fine and up to two years in jail.

The Texas Penal Code prohibits a person from from intentionally, knowingly or recklessly mistreating an animal. Two of the dogs have been sent to a lab at North Carolina State University to determine their cause of death.