98 Dogs, 3 Cats Removed From 'Inhumane Conditions' In St. Clair County Home

COTTRELLVILLE TWP. (WWJ) - More than 100 animals have been removed from a house in St. Clair County, where they were found in unsanitary conditions.

The sheriff's office says it responded to complaints about a foul odor and loud barking Tuesday at a home in the 7500-block of South River Road in Cottrellville Township.

A total of 98 dogs and three cats were either removed by authorities or turned over by the homeowners over the course of two days.

Officials say of 22 of the dogs were taken by Animal Control on Tuesday. Also Tuesday, the homeowners turned over 23 dogs to a Colorado-based Norwegian Buhund rescue, who arranged temporary housing for the animals throughout Michigan.  Another nine dogs were turned over by the homeowners to the St. Clair County Humane Society.

On Wednesday, deputies and the Animal Control officer returned with a search warrant and took 38 more dogs, along with three cats. At this time it was discovered, officials said, that the homeowners had given up six dogs to the Blue Water Humane Society before deputies returned.

The animals were described by the sheriff's office as Norwegian Buhund, Norrbottenspets and mixed-breed dogs.

St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon said, while the animals were not malnourished, they were extremely dirty, and the condition of the home was like nothing he has ever seen.

"Inhumane conditions," said Donnellon. "They were running free on the first floor of the home; so they weren't crated, they basically had the whole run of the first level of a small house, where the husband and wife lived upstairs in a bedroom. Now, they were not without food or water but they were covered in feces and urine — they were unsanitary."

Authorities are now looking into possible health code violations as well as criminal charges in connection with this case.

Meantime, the dogs and cats at the animal control office are being cleaned up, cared for and evaluated for possible adoption.

No names have been released.