VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas — A North Texas man will spend six years in prison after pleading guilty in an animal cruelty case.
James Henry Eubanks was arrested on Jan. 19, 2024, after the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit searched his property and found 10 dogs: four were running loose on the property and six were confined to kennels, according to SPCA. SPCA says of the six that were locked in kennels, three were dead.
SPCA says food was not available to the dogs, and all water sources were frozen. All 10 of the dogs were outdoors, and the weather on the day of the investigation was 15°F.
“Necropsies were performed on the three deceased dogs,” the SPCA of Texas’ news release reads. “Preliminary findings showed that the dogs suffered from starvation and dehydration and ultimately succumbed to their conditions in the freezing temperatures without adequate protection from the elements.”
On July 11, Eubanks pleaded guilty to Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals and was sentenced to six years in prison.
The investigation was kicked off by a complaint from a concerned citizen, according to a release from SPCA of Texas.
“We also are thankful that a concerned citizen came forward and reported what they witnessed happening to these animals," said SPCA of Texas Chief Investigator, Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit Courtney Burns. "I cannot stress enough how important it is for the public to file a complaint if they suspect animal cruelty is occurring.”
