23 dogs and 5 chickens were taken from an area home a woman was found to be hoarding the animals.

Since all of the animals were surrendered voluntarily - no animal cruelty charges were filed.

Stephanie Frommer , field services director and animal cruelty officer for Monadnock Humane Society, said the forfeiture came over the past three weeks.

"You know in the winter people stay inside, you don't see the animals or hear them or smell them," she said. "But once spring and summer come, people start to take notice more."

A woman once well-known on the dog show circuit was living in a feces-infested home with 23 dogs and 5 chickens. The home, which had no electricity or running water, is scheduled to be condemned, Frommer said.

"In this case, you could tell by the condition of the outside of the house that you weren't going to find anything much better inside," Frommer said.

She said the woman allowed officials inside where they discovered serious health issues.

"She really had no concept of how bad it had gotten," Frommer said. "She told us she knew it was 'a little messy' and that she was going to take some time off to clean. She really didn't understand why we were taking her animals away."

The dogs, some of which were living in her car, were underweight and infested with fleas and mites. Most of the dogs were purebred Schipperkes, a Belgian breed similar to Pomeranians, but with black coats, Frommer said. Some of the dogs were more than 10 years old and some were age 16, Frommer said. Some of the oldest dogs had to be euthanized. All but six of the remaining dogs have been adopted.

One skinny chicken, which had been living in the house, had severe respiratory problems and deformed legs. It was put down.

Four chickens living outside were treated for mites but were in fairly good shape and were adopted.

Frommer said the woman could be charged if the problem repeats itself.

Frommer said the situation is sad for the animals and their owners.

"The animals are not being provided with all the care that they need, and the individual cannot possibly keep up with the needs of that many animals.

"And for the people hoarding the animals, they are living in homes that are uninhabitable or barely habitable. ...On some level they do love these animals, and it's sad for them to have them taken away. But when that happens, I always hope for them that it's a chance for them to make a fresh start."

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