The Portage County Humane Society and the Portage County Sheriff's Department were called to a home in the 300 block of East Grand Avenue in Rosholt for a report of animal neglect.

When deputies arrived they found a classic example of animal hoarding and horrendously unsanitary living conditions.

The house was overrun with a dozen dogs, several cats, two hedgehogs, an iguana, a parakeet, fish and a dead rabbit. There was animal feces and urine on the walls and in the bedrooms of the four young children, the oldest was around 6, who lived at the residence, according to the Humane Society.

The Portage County Sheriff's Department would not release the name of the home owners.

The Department of Health and Human Services was called for the well being of the children. The family was taken to a hotel. It's uncertain if the house is livable, but the head humane society officer said the scene was "disgusting."

"You could smell the house from the front yard," said Scott Wiza. "It was making the animals' eyes red and watery. It could knock you over."

Wiza called the case one of the 10 worst he had ever seen.

Reference:

Stevens Point Journal