DENVER -- A case of alleged animal hoarding means there are some dogs who need new homes.

Investigators found 146 dogs, primarily schnauzer mixes, and one cat living in horrible conditions at a home in Las Animas County.

"The conditions were pretty bad in some cases. Some of the animals were kept in a U-Haul trailer with no food or water," said Barbara Novoryta, chief investigator with the Dumb Friends League. "Some were in pens and others were roaming loose."

The dogs had gone without food, water and attention for so long that some of the animals turned on one another, each fighting for survival.

"Some of the dogs are friendly and some are not," Novoryta said.

Novoryta seized the dogs on Friday and sent them to the Denver Dumb Friends League, who will evaluate each dog's health and mental state and put some up for adoption later this week. Some of the dogs are too young or need socialization before being made available for adoption, 7NEWS reported.

The dogs' owners are expected to be charged with animal cruelty.

In hoarding cases, the owners start out wanting to help the animals by taking them in, but then they take in so many animals that all start to become neglected, said a Denver Dumb Friends League spokeswoman.

As peace officers commissioned by the Colorado Bureau of Animal Protection, the DDFL's investigators respond to reports of animal abuse and neglect throughout eight metro counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson and Weld. The DDFL frequently assists the State Bureau of Animal Protection on animal hoarding cases.

If you are interested in adopting one of the animals, call the DDFL at (303) 751-5772.

You can also help out in the care for the dogs by donating money to either the DDFL or the State Animal Cruelty Prevention Fund:

Denver Dumb Friends League
2080 S. Quebec Street
Denver, CO 80231
Att: Las Animas Hoarder Case
www.DDFL.org

Animal Cruelty Prevention Fund
700 Kipling St. 4000
Lakewood, CO 80215