MCALLEN – A McAllen says she first noticed the canine family of six, which she describes as two adult labs and four puppies back in July. It wasn’t until a few months later, a chain caught her eye.

“He had her chained to a tether ball pole and she couldn’t even lay down,” she said.

For this story, the woman will be referred to as “Betty” for protection from the dog owners.

One day, Betty went over to feed the dogs. That’s when she saw the mother’s neck was red from collar burn, feces all around the pole and the puppies dirty.

She called animal rescue. Then McAllen police ended up going by the home on Dallas Avenue twice and animal control once. Betty learned the mother had been picked up and taken to Palm Valley Animal Society.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS reached out to PVAS. They confirmed the dog was surrendered to animal control Jan. 1, but two days later, the owner reclaimed the dog.

Watch the video above for the full story.