OHIO -- Ohio County Animal Control found 54 dogs at a woman's home on Cotton Lane in Ohio County.
Animal Control officers say they have been working with her for the past year and a half to remove dogs from her property, and say enough was enough.
More than 50 dogs are recovering Saturday at an emergency shelter in Lebanon, Tennessee after being rescued from an elderly woman who was hoarding the dogs.
"I really feel she did not understand that she was doing anything wrong," said Traci Ward, the Ohio County Animal Control officer.
The woman had been working with animal control to get her hoarding under control.
"It would look like we would be making a dent, and then we would go to get some more and it would look like there was more than there was," said Ward.
A total of 80 to 85 dogs have now been removed from her property.
This time, Animal Rescue Corps had to be called in to help take the dogs.
"The animals were living in deplorable conditions, but the animals themselves weren't the worst I've seen," said Scotlund Haisley, the President of the Animal Rescue Corps.
The dogs all suffer from internal and exterior parasites and have never seen a vet.
The woman's trailer had garbage and feces inside and is in such bad shape it will have to be razed.
"The suffering has gone on here clearly years at this property, I don't know how long but half of the house had fallen over at some point I would guess a decade ago," said Haisley.
Under the debris of the fallen house, the dogs created their own shelter through a tunnel system. A demolition crew had to come in to remove the debris and get all the dogs safely out.
"The property was incredibly inhumane for both people and animals," said Haisley.
Animal Control says despite the conditions, the 70 or 80 year old woman was keeping the dogs out of a mental illness she thought was love. Although she subjected these animals to horrific conditions, she has cooperated. They are not pressing charges. She will now be staying with family in the area.
"Hoarding is a sickness but she really did love her animals," said Ward.
As for the dogs; they are in good care and will begin a behavior and personality assessment this week to better place them in loving homes.
Animal Rescue Corps. say they will start placing the dogs by the end of next week. They will send a few to rescues and shelters across the U.S. to places that have the available resources to care for them.
(14 News WFIE Evansville - Feb 1, 2015)
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