PENNSYLVANIA — Dozens of animals were rescued from a home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania after authorities found them living in what officials described as deplorable conditions.
According to the Pennsylvania SPCA, a total of 93 animals were removed from a residence on High Ridge Road in Columbia, Pennsylvania on Wednesday.
Officials said the animals included 76 dogs and puppies, 15 cats and kittens, and two Flemish rabbits.
Investigators with the PSPCA’s Animal Law Enforcement team said they were alerted by a concerned citizen. When officers arrived with a search warrant, they reported a strong foul odor coming from the property and observed animals in distress inside the home.
Authorities said conditions inside the residence included piles of excrement, pools of liquid and contaminated water. Many of the animals were reportedly covered in fecal matter and showed signs of severe neglect, including extreme matting, hair loss and scabbing.
Some animals, including a mother German Shepherd and her puppies, were found confined in crates in the garage under unsanitary conditions, officials said.
The rescued animals will undergo medical evaluations, and authorities said the investigation into possible animal cruelty and neglect is ongoing. Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.
