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Michigan Couple Faces Charges After 98 Dogs, 3 Cats Hoarded In Home

COTTRELLVILLE TWP. (WWJ/AP) - A Michigan couple now faces abandoning or cruelty to animal charges after 98 dogs and three cats were found in their home.

St. Clair County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Guilliat said warrants were issued Wednesday for 66-year-old Michael Higgins and 56-year-old Lynn Higgins of Cottrellville Township.

They are expected to be arraigned Thursday.

Authorities say the animals were removed last week from a home, in 7500 block of South River Road, after a neighbor complained about a foul smell and loud noises coming from the property, about 50 miles northeast of Detroit.

Sheriff Tim Donnellon said it appeared the couple had been breeding, showing and rescuing dogs which were found to be living in what he called "inhumane conditions."

Donnellon said of 22 of the dogs were taken by Animal Control on June 14. The same day, the homeowners allegedly turned over almost two dozen dogs to a Colorado-based Norwegian Buhund rescue, and another nine dogs were surrendered by the homeowners to the St. Clair County Humane Society.

On June 15, 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 Norwegian Buhund, Norrbottenspets and Norwegian Spets mix dogs — many of them puppies — were covered in feces and urine, but seemed to be well fed and in overall good physical shape.

The animals are being evaluated for adoption.

Meantime, Faye Adcox of the Norwegian Buhund Club of America told the Times Herald that donations are being accepted to help with vet bills and to pay for 23 of the dogs, now in foster homes, to be spayed or neutered.

In a Facebook post appearing the day the dogs were taken, the group called it "a dire situation."

[Anyone interested in applying to adopt a dog or make a donation can visit buhund.org].

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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