Afghan hound investigation continues

More than a dozen Afghan hounds remained in Placer County Animal Services protective custody Monday after being taken from a Meadow Vista couple Friday. A total of 21 dogs belonging to Robert and Irene Robocker are currently housed at the Placer County Animal Shelter in Auburn, 13 of which were taken from their Pinewood Way residence after the family was served a warrant Friday. The family relinquished 28 dogs to animal services in January after the agency received a complaint about the dogs' welfare.The Robockers could not be reached for comment Monday. Animal services will continue its investigation of the dogs' owners to determine if they were being adequately cared for, said Anita Yoder, Placer County public information officer. "What happens is, if the case has merit, they send it to the district attorney, who decides if any further action is necessary," Yoder said Monday afternoon. Yoder said that the 13 dogs taken Friday have since been examined and evaluated by a veterinarian, but that she could not release exam results because the investigation is ongoing. Yoder could not say how long the investigation of the dogs' owners would take.While it is unknown if the 13 dogs seized Friday would be returned to the Robockers, the 28 dogs relinquished in January are no longer property of the family, Yoder said. Of that group of 28, eight puppies are at the shelter and 20 adult dogs have been placed in foster homes. Yoder said Placer County Animal Services is asking that rescue groups provide any veterinary records linked to the dogs surrendered in January.Astrid Pryor is a Grass Valley resident and the northern direction director of Afghan Hound Rescue of Southern California."I've been rescuing (the Robockers') dogs since 1992," she said Monday. "The fact that (they) don't have any more, it's just joyful to me."Pryor is currently housing one of the dogs surrendered in January, a male she calls Jet. The dog had 14 teeth extracted and a tumor removed, Pryor said, and will undergo heartworm treatment. Jet was not the only dog in need of veterinary care, Pryor said, as other dogs had tumors, matted hair, heartworm and dental issues, among other problems. Pryor praised animal services for removing the remaining 13 dogs from the Robockers. "It's just the most wonderful thing in the world," she said. "It is wonderful to think we might be finally putting a halt to it."The Journal's Loryll Nicolaisen can be reached at lorylln@goldcountrymedia.com.