SEBRING, Fla. (WFLA) — Dozens of dogs are learning what life is like outside the four walls of a home and, in some cases, the walls of a cage.

“This morning, we took them all outside for the first time and they were all out in the play yard and they were just like, they had never smelled fresh air,” said Judy Spiegel, shelter manager at the Humane Society of Highlands County.

On Thursday, the last of 46 dogs was groomed to remove matted fur.

“He had to just sleep in his own urine and feces. None of the animals had water and none of them had food at the time that they went in,” said Spiegel.

Now, 46 dogs and 8 cats are getting a fresh start.

“We got them all comfortable and clean and it was just probably the nicest night they’ve had in a year,” said Spiegel.

This week, deputies discovered an animal hoarding situation inside a Highlands County home while initiating an eviction in the Kissimmee River Estates neighborhood.

Darlene Hutchinson, 66, and Arthur Doliver, 36, are facing 54 counts each of animal cruelty.

According to officials, they lived in the home for six years and started with two dogs and one cat in the home.

“She said she would just take dogs in, she claimed, with the goal of finding homes for them but obviously that wasn’t the goal because none of these animals ever went anywhere, they just kept getting more and more of them,” said Scott Dressel, public information officer, Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.

Dressel said the home was covered in urine and feces and deputies wore PPE while working in the home.

“If a human being wants to live in a condition like that, that’s their choice. I wouldn’t recommend it but the animals don’t have a choice. There’s just no excuse for that many animals to be in that small a home and be kept in cages and never let out,” said Dressel.

The Highlands County Animal Control facility is under construction so the Humane Society of Highlands County received all the animals, while it was already at full capacity.

“We’re just going to make it work because what choice do you have? You can’t leave them in that situation,” said Spiegel.

“When you hear about it, you get angry but then, when you see them and you realize what you are doing for these dogs and the improvement that just by getting on that truck has already done to their lives, makes everything worth it,” said Jess Watts, medical coordinator at the Humane Society of Highlands County.

It is expected it will cost several hundred dollars to get each animal healthy and ready for adoption.

The animals received treatment for fleas, intestinal parasites, and external parasites. They will need to be spayed, neutered, and tested for heartworm. 

Donna Holden is one of many who dropped off supplies after hearing the news.

“We had all the stuff that was sitting in our closets so we figured it’s the least we could do. We had extra blankets, sheets, towels and that’s what they were asking for,” said Holden.

Another way people can help is to adopt.

“Right now everybody wants to come and get these but they’re not ready to go but if you get some of our healthy animals adopted, then we can spread them out more so there’s not so many in the cage,” said Spiegel.

There are 60 dogs and 40 cats, unrelated to the criminal case, currently available at the shelter.

The shelter also accepts monetary donations at https://www.humanesocietyofhighlandscounty.org/how-to-help.