Owners arrested after 5 neglected dogs found in Federal Way trailer

After five neglected dogs were recently found in a Federal Way trailer, the owners have been arrested and face multiple charges of animal cruelty, according to Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County.

Animal Services Officer Gallagher and Federal Way patrol officers responded to 911 calls about three dogs on the loose near the 30500 block of 11th Avenue South, said Cmdr. Casey Jones of Federal Way Police. The callers also said the dogs looked unhealthy and lethargic.

Officer Gallagher found the dogs were severely malnourished and covered in filth, Jones said.

The owners surrendered two of the dogs to police. Vet examinations later confirmed the abuse, Jones said. One of the dogs could not walk and needed to be transferred to an emergency vet clinic.

“When both dogs regain health, we will make sure they find their forever homes,” Jones said.

A third dog retreated to the trailer, requiring police to get a search warrant to retrieve the dog. After a search warrant was approved, they found the remaining dog and two additional dogs in the trailer.

The inside of the trailer was described as “a mess,” and covered in dog feces and urine, according to the Humane Society.

The two owners did not surrender these three dogs and they will be placed in long-term foster care while police wait for criminal proceedings against the owners, Jones said.

As of Sept. 22, five dogs were rescued from the Federal Way residence and brought to the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County to be cared for, according to the shelter.

The dogs, ranging from 5 months old to 8 years old, include four German shepherds and one French bulldog.

All five dogs were found malnourished, water-deprived, and acted fearful upon arriving at the shelter, the Humane Society said.

The veterinary staff at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County is working to get the dogs back to a health and are keeping a close eye on their condition.

“We’re monitoring their health very closely,” said Dr. Stephanie Swearngin, veterinarian at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County. “Our team is giving them the care they need to get them back to a healthy weight.”

Federal Way animal services officers determined the two owners are also involved in other animal cruelty cases. The owners were taken to jail during the warrant service because they had animal cruelty arrest warrants from another jurisdiction, Jones said.

Animal services officers in Federal Way are coordinating with other jurisdictions to prevent the owners from being allowed to possess any animals while all of the cases are pending against them, he added.

Donations help the Humane Society care for the five dogs, and other neglected animals that come to the shelter every year. If you would like to donate, visit the shelter’s website at www.thehumanesociety.org/five-neglected-dogs/.

Federal Way Police expressed their appreciation for the dedication and compassion of the shelter taking in the neglected dogs, and commends the community members who called 911 when they saw the dogs in their condition, Jones said.

“No animal should experience such misery. We are proud of our animal services team for directly confronting the horrors of animal abuse,” he said. “The sights, sounds, and smells of abuse cases weigh heavy on our staff and we hope the sadness is lifted knowing that the dogs are no longer experiencing such bad conditions.”