Dozens of dogs seized from Garner woman's home

Police said Shelly Spicer was getting some of the animals from ads posted on Craigslist and was trying to adopt them out.

Animal control seized a variety of puppies and adults, including Labrador retrievers, St. Bernards and mixed breeds, from Spicer's residence at 103 Bournemouth Lane.

One puppy was dead, but the other animals had food and water and appeared to be in fair condition, police said.

The animals were taken to Wake County's Animal Control and Adoption Center, where further inspection found some of the dogs have parvovirus, a contagious disease among canines.

Those infected will have to be euthanized, but it wasn't immediately clear whether the others would be put up for adoption, the shelter's director, Mike Williams, said.

Williams said there could be some legal issues. He believes Spicer might have been caring for some of the dogs for foster groups, who legally have ownership over them.

Authorities do not expect to file charges. Animal control seized the dogs when a neighbor reported several dogs loose Wednesday morning. Spicer had too many dogs under Garner's town ordinance.

Spicer declined to comment.

"She was trying to do the right thing and just got in over her head," Garner animal control officer Judi Lowery said.