A Tennessee woman was arrested April 6 after police found 31 dogs living in deplorable conditions at her home, the Paris Post-Intelligencer reports.
Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew told the newspaper that he believed Cheryn Ann Kidd, 66, was keeping some of the dogs—most of whom were Shih Tzus—for sale, while others were pets.
Department Sgt. Dennis Vaughn investigated a call that a strong odor coming from Kidd’s home, and upon investigation found many dogs living in squalid conditions. Vaughan and the Henry County Humane Society ultimately searched the property on a warrant and removed the animals.
The newspaper says that according to Vaughn’s police report: “The smell in the house was overwhelming and there were approximately 12-14 puppies locked in a back bedroom of the house. The floor was covered in feces, trash and wet mashed dog food. The bowls of drinking water contained dirty, brown water with food floating in it.”
Humane Society members adopted or are fostering 21 of the dogs, while the remaining 10 are staying at the Henry County Sheriff’s Department’s Animal Shelter, the Intelligencer reports.