More than five dozen animals seized in Ellis County earlier this month are being placed up for adoption, according to the SPCA of Texas.
Maura Davies, spokesperson for the SPCA Texas, said they were awarded custody of 68 dogs, three cats and a macaw after the woman who previously had custody, Gayle Justice, waived any claim to the animals.
Justice ran a dog training and boarding facility, Maximum K-9 Dog Training, out of her Ellis County home.
The SPCA said six of the dogs have been returned to their owners and that the rest will be offered up for adoption to individuals and rescue groups. Officials will try to find the owners of dogs who are microchipped before they are allowed to be adopted out.
When the animals were seized, Ellis County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Lt. James Saulter said Justice was facing a charge of animal cruelty after dozens of animals were found dead on her property in bags.
In an interview with NBC 5, Justice said the deputies were misrepresenting her and that she had done nothing wrong. When asked about the deceased animals Justice would only reply that she was "overloaded" and "totally exhausted."
NBC 5's Johnny Archer contributed to this report.
