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35 dogs, 15 cats rescued from Cleveland hoarder's home

Posted at 8:12 PM, Aug 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-26 20:14:56-04

Dozens of dog and cats were rescued from a hoarder's home in Cleveland Friday morning.

Humane investigators from the Cleveland Animal Protective League were serving a search warrant to a home when they discovered 35 dogs and 15 cats living in filth.

"The house was feces-filled," said APL President Sharon Harvey. "It was a pretty nasty situation."

The dogs, all of the same Papillon breed, range in age -- the youngest is a puppy just 3 months old.

At first glance, the animals may not look like they're in terrible shape, but if you look a little closer, you see skin showing through fur, fleas covering thin bodies.

Harvey said it may have been a once-loving home that got out of hand.

"When the number of pets exceeds a person's ability to provide humane care, that's too many pets," Harvey said, adding that the city of Cleveland does not limit the number of animals an owner has.

Harvey said the APL investigators are working with the prosecutor's office to determine possible charges for the pet owner.

The animals are currently being checked out and will eventually be adopted out to forever homes.