WBTW

Conway dog owner to pay Horry County Animal Center more than $3000 in fines for seized dogs

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)- The Conway man cited for failing to provide proper care to the animals appeared before a Horry County Magistrate judge Wednesday.

The Horry County Police Department seized Eduardo Chaviano’s 37 dogs March 5 after finding the animals lived in very poor conditions. According to the police report, there was mold in the house and the dogs were caged on top of one another.

Conway Magistrate Brad Mayers ruled Chaviano had to pay a portion of the Animal Care Center’s costs to care for the dogs. That fine is $3160 in restitution to the center after the Chaviano consented to the center keeping the dogs.

The center’s staff is now working to treat the dogs and get them ready to be adopted.

“There was a lot of grooming issues where they’re significantly matted. There were some urine stains, some fecal matter on some of the animals and we’re working right now to clean all that up,” Operations Manager Kelly Bonome said.

The process to treat the dogs is going to take at least 2 weeks.

“It’s going to take us just a little bit longer and the level of grooming on more of the animals is going to take a little bit longer, so we are working with all of the animals and all of our resources to make that happen,” Bonome added.

A big part of that grooming process is removing matted hair from the dogs that’s covering their eyes and paws. Once that process is completed, the dogs will be a step closer to finding a new home.

“As the animals go through the spray and neuter surgery that night we’ll post them again on the website and on the Facebook page letting people know what animals are available.”

The Animal Care Center’s directors told News13 the Chavianos are working with them to give as much information as possible about the dogs such as their breed and names to better help them find a new home.

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