82 Rescued Dogs Ready For Adoption

Not even Ouida Curtis' family knew how many dogs she kept inside the house she rented on Sans Souci Road in Mobile.

"I knew it was 50 at one time. Maybe 51 or 53," said Yogi Waters, Curtis' brother. But, as animal control officers carried the dogs out of the home Wednesday evening, the total climbed to 82.

"I didn't see anything wrong with it because they're loving them, feeding them, taking care of them just like any other person who loved animals would do," says Curtis' niece, who returned to the home Thursday to nail the back door closed.

Family members tell News Five Curtis and her boyfriend, Robert Dees, took good care of the dogs, despite what officials described as filthy living conditions. Waters' says the dogs ate tacos on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and they ate chicken and ribs the rest of the week.

Ellen Lursen, Director of the Mobile Animal Shelter, agreed the dogs appeared to be healthy, and she even suggested the charges against the couple may be downgraded from animal cruelty to animal neglect.

"It's not intentional cruelty and the people were living with the animals, so it's not like they were abusing or torturing the animals," says Lursen.

According to Lursen, Curtis willingly surrendered the dogs to the shelter, and they are available for adoption immediately.

Thirty-eight of the dogs are being housed at the Mobile Animal Shelter on Owen Street. The other 44 are being boarded at the county's shelter.

For information on how to adopt the animals call the Mobile Animal Shelter at 251-208-2800.