Couple charged with animal cruelty, 49 dogs seized in Lewes, Rehoboth

A total of 49 dogs have now been seized from a Lewes couple, who were arrested Friday.

Delaware Animal Services, the enforcement unit of the Office of Animal Welfare, received a tip that a 32-year-old man wanted on animal cruelty charges from earlier this month was spotted at a business on Coastal Highway in Rehoboth Beach. Officers found him there in an SUV with his 33-year-old wife and 14 more dogs, according to a news release from the Department of Health and Human Services.

The dogs were living in the SUV, which was “full of trash, feces and debris,” according to the news release. They are now in the care of the Brandywine Valley SPCA, which took in 35 dogs discovered to be living in similar conditions in Lewes Aug. 7. The 32-year-old man is also being charged in that case, with a total of 29 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. He was released on $14,500 unsecured bond.

The 33-year-old woman was charged with 14 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and released on $7,000 unsecured bond. The couple is prohibited from owning or possessing animals pending the outcome of the case, according to the news release.

Of the dogs seized earlier this month, 30 have been adopted, the news release said. The newly seized dogs will be available for adoption from the Brandywine Valley SPCA as early as Wednesday.