EVERETT — Snohomish County animal control officers seized seven large dogs Thursday from a house south of Everett. The dogs allegedly had been neglected by their owner.
The officers had obtained a judge’s permission to search the home, said Vicki Lubrin, the county’s licensing and animal control services manager.
A woman who lived in the home, 48, was detained by sheriff’s deputies and released pending further investigation. The woman had been the focus of a previous animal control inquiry in 2015, Lubrin said. In that case, the woman was accused of having four or more dogs without the kennel license required by county codes. She found new homes for all of her dogs last year, Lubrin said.
As recently as July, the woman had denied owning dogs again.
She is now the focus of a criminal investigation based on the condition of her dogs, Lubrin said. A credible tip prompted the new inquiry, Lubrin said. The woman could face a charge of animal cruelty.
The search warrant operation started about 8:30 a.m. along Fourth Place W. That unincorporated area is near Martha Lake, between Everett and Lynnwood.
All of the large-breed adult dogs were being kept indoors and appeared to be “severely neglected,” Lubrin said. The house allegedly was covered in animal feces and urine.
The dogs were taken to the Everett Animal Shelter for medical exams and treatment. An update on their conditions was not available Thursday evening.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; @rikkiking.
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