44 dogs removed from Vallejo 'hoarder' home linked to convicted breeder in animal cruelty case

VALLEJO, Calif. (KGO) -- Authorities removed 44 dogs from a Vallejo home Thursday as part of an animal cruelty investigation connected to a dog breeder previously convicted of similar crimes.

Animal control officers were seen taking dogs in crates from the residence as the investigation unfolded. The dogs were taken to multiple shelters in the area, where they are being evaluated by veterinarians, according to the Solano County Sheriff's Office.

"It's a hoarding situation, so it looks like they're using the bathroom inside of the home," said Sgt. Rex Hawkins of the Solano County Sheriff's Office.

Hawkins said the department served a search warrant in an animal cruelty case.

The home is connected to Susan Anthony, who has previously been convicted of animal cruelty. Anthony said her elderly mother lives at the residence.

MORE: CA animal welfare advocates push for statewide regulations following horrific incidents

As deputies carried out the warrant, Anthony shouted, "They're all healthy!"

A deputy responded: "It's a criminal investigation we have a search warrant!"

Anthony said others help care for the dogs at the property.

"These dogs are being taken care of by other people besides my mom. I'm not at liberty to say but she has the ownership of these dogs on her property. These are not workaholic dogs, they sleep for 17 hours a day," Anthony said.

Matthew Liebman, a law professor at the University of San Francisco, said animal hoarding often involves people collecting or breeding animals while failing to recognize poor living conditions.

"So, animal hoarding is a relatively common phenomenon in which people compulsively collect or breed animals, often unable to recognize when they're in poor conditions. So, it can refer to both the quantity of animals, but also the poor quality of their living conditions," Liebman said.

Liebman said he is familiar with Anthony and the dogs from his previous work representing the Animal Legal Defense Fund in a case involving her.

"So, the law in Vallejo is you can only have 4 dogs at a time. With that volume of dogs in a residential area, there's going to be a lot of noise, there's going to be a lot of feces and urine and those smells, are gonna disturb the neighbors, not to mention the 44 dogs that are living there, having to breathe ammonia, having to live in their own filth. So, it's really just a tragedy all around," Liebman said.

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities said the dogs are being housed at multiple shelters while veterinarians evaluate their condition.