Dozens of dogs, many dead, found in Riverside County home of animal hoarder

More than 40 dogs, half of them dead, were discovered unattended in the home of an animal hoarder in Riverside County last week, authorities said.

Riverside County Animal Services officers were dispatched to a home in the 88000 block of Avenue 61 in Thermal on July 11, KTLA reported.

They found more than 40 unattended dogs in the home, about 20 of which were dead, officials said. The home was littered with trash and junk, while the dogs were either locked in rooms and crates or running freely around the house, officials said.

The surviving dogs were emaciated, weak and in poor health and were taken to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms for treatment, KTLA reported.

The homeowner was reportedly hospitalized in critical condition.

Riverside County Animal Services did not respond to requests for additional information. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department referred all inquiries to Animal Services.

Last year, at least 14 puppies were euthanized after being taken from a hoarding shelter in Lake Los Angeles, Los Angeles County authorities said.