WOOD HEIGHTS, MO (KCTV) -
Three cats and seven dogs are at the Excelsior Springs Animal Shelter after they were rescued from deplorable conditions.
"I broke down because of the animals. They were put in a situation beyond their control and that shouldn't have to be," said Wood Heights Mayor John Allen.
Allen was called to 111 Kent Street on Friday. Foreclosure papers were being served on the owners, but they had already taken off. They left a note on the front door saying they'd left their animals behind. The conditions inside were so bad, a city worker got physically sick.
"It was terrible. The kitchen was knee high, the living room was full of feces, the bathroom was full of urine," said Allen.
"The smell blew me over. There was so much feces. It was really hard to grasp human beings and animals living inside the residence," said Excelsior Springs Animal control supervisor Kristina Baxter.
Baxter was called in to help. The animals were in trouble and even though it was outside of her jurisdiction, when she heard how serious the situation was, she immediately headed to the house.
"I got to the animals and looked at them and they were so calm, like 'what's next?' It broke my heart," said Baxter.
Some of the animals were malnourished.
"I could see and feel their ribcages," said Baxter.
They were immediately treated for fleas and internal parasites. The mayor said he is pushing for animal cruelty charges. But so far the owners are nowhere to be found. Baxter said she will work on finding the animals good homes and still can't believe how bad things really were.
"These guys can't fend for themselves. To leave them in that environment and think it's OK? No. It's unacceptable," said Baxter.
The animals will remain at the shelter for at least five days. Once they are given the all-clear, they will be available for adoption.
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