The SPCA of Texas was awarded custody of 10 dogs and 56 cats seized from a Van Zandt County property after a civil custody hearing on Wednesday, June 11, at the Van Zandt County Courthouse.
Van Zandt County Judge Joshua Wintters defaulted to a prior judgment when the property owner, Hayley Hull, failed to complete an appeal request, granting the SPCA custody and $22,090.75 in restitution.
Hull, who operates Yelp for Help Animal Rescue, was arrested on May 29 and charged with cruelty to nonlivestock animals — neglect, a Class A misdemeanor. She was booked into the Van Zandt County Jail and released on a $10,000 bond, according to a June 18 press release from the SPCA of Texas.
On May 5, the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit, accompanied by Forensic Veterinarian Shawn Ashley, executed search and seizure warrants at a property in Eustace. The team removed 10 dogs and 56 cats from a metal building that appeared abandoned, surrounded by knee-high grass and rotting trash. A strong ammonia odor, indicative of excessive animal waste, permeated the area.
Inside the building, ammonia levels reached 50 parts per million (ppm), with the cat room registering 53 ppm levels far exceeding the 20 ppm threshold for short-term human exposure safety and 12 ppm for long-term exposure. The dogs, three loose and seven crated, were kept in a room with urine and feces on the floor and in crates. Most dogs had diarrhea and tested positive for hookworms and Giardia, and all were flea-infested.
The cats, housed in a separate room with open wire cages and an overflowing cat condo, faced even worse conditions. Litter boxes were filled with waste, forcing cats to urinate and defecate on the floor. Many cats displayed signs of illness, including coughing, sneezing, weepy eyes, and severe eye infections.
Two cats had lost their eyes, likely due to untreated infections, and a kitten suffered a severe ear infection with pus discharge. At least three cats were lethargic, underweight, and had labored breathing, while others showed hair loss and scabby skin.
“This case is a devastating example of how cruelty and neglect can hide in plain sight, and why intervention is so critical,” said SPCA of Texas ACI Unit Chief Investigator Courtney Burns, CAWA. “Thankfully, once removed from that toxic environment and given proper medical treatment and compassionate care, these animals began to recover remarkably well.”
The animals were transported to the SPCA of Texas Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center for medical and behavioral care. One cat, in liver failure upon seizure, died of Feline Infectious Peritonitis.
The investigation began on May 4, 2025, after Marcy McAlpin, founder of Noah’s Paws Animal Rescue, reported suspected cruelty. McAlpin, a veterinary technician who worked with Hull, was asked to care for the animals while Hull was away, but received no care instructions or medications. On May 2, McAlpin observed approximately 15 dogs and 47 cats in cramped, unsanitary conditions. She alerted the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office the next day, citing malnourishment and illness among the animals. Unable to manage the toxic conditions, McAlpin contacted the SPCA.
“We are deeply grateful to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office for their swift support and commitment to justice for these animals,” Burns said. “We also are thankful that a community leader stepped up to report suspected animal cruelty as it occurred.”
Hull has denied the accusations against her.
She wrote on the Yelp for Help Animal Rescue Facebook page, “It’s amazing the evil in this world. I left my animals in the care of people I trusted and they have neglected and lied. The truth will come out and I have proof.”
The SPCA encourages the public to report suspected animal cruelty at spca.org/abuse and seeks support for its rescue efforts at spca.org/GIVE.