Officials with the city of Southfield, along with the Michigan Humane Society, on Wednesday raided a kennel and the owners home and removed about 32 dogs and eight cats from the house.
Deborah MacDonald, an investigator with the Humane Society, told the Detroit Free Press newspaper that there was visible fecal matter and urine inside the home.
When you have 30 animals in a house that really aren't getting out a lot, you can imagine there's a sanitation issue, she said.
A city ordinance states that a maximum of three dogs and two cats can live in a single residence.
It took about three hours to remove the animals, which were taken to a Humane Society shelter. The pets have been given food and toys, and will be assessed by veterinarians, Humane Society spokeswoman Amy Popp said.
About 10 dogs and 10 cats housed in the backyard kennel were not removed because they were in good condition and belong to a local rescue organization.
The city learned about the condition of the Green Willow Boarding Kennel after a code enforcement officer went to the home on the property about a month ago, Nik Banda, city director of planning and economic development told the Free Press.
Robert and Patricia Pellow, the couple who has owned the kennel for the past 15 years, likely won't get all of the animals back, and are working with the Humane Society to get the pets adopted, Banda said.
Posted: March 25, 2006, 5 a.m. EST