Authorities rescued more than 20 famished dogs, either neglected or ill, from a Santa Ana, Calif. home after an enforcement visit on Tuesday morning.
According to ABC7 Los Angeles, Santa Ana Police Animal Services discovered 22 dogs in the 2200 block of West 14th Street. The dogs, which breeds include pugs, Chihuahuas, and terriers, were believed to have been neglected for a long time.
NBC Los Angeles reported that most of the recovered dogs are between 5 and 10 years old and were hidden in the backyard.
Animal Services Supervisor Sondra Berg said there were at least five puppies included in the group and found in a cardboard box.
"The dogs are in pretty bad shape. They have mange, eye infections, ear infections, ear mites, and some are underweight," said Berg. "The majority of them have scabies, which is highly contagious from dog to dog and also to humans."
The dogs are reportedly being treated at the Orange County Animal Care.
Police say that a woman named Auralia Arechiga, 47, hoarded the dogs and was preparing to sell them for profit.
Berg said that Arechiga "claims she's rescuing these dogs from Mexico and brings them here and then she buys puppies in Riverside and sells the puppies for profit."
None of the rescued dogs have ever undergone medical treatment.
But Arechiga denied the allegation that she has neglected the animals rescued in her house.
In a report by KTLA 5, Arechiga said, "They make it seem like me and my mom and ... whoever else lives here are criminals, but we're not. We actually take these dogs in. We keep them and we bathe them. The backyard's clean. I always change the water every day."
In the next few days, authorities intend to file a criminal case against Arechiga.
