Authorities arrived early Friday afternoon. They planned the raid since Thursday afternoon. It has been a horrible week for pets in the Ottumwa area. Earlier in the week, police shut down the North Court Pet Palace along Iowa Avenue.

Wapello County Sheriff Don Kirkendall said authorities were still investigating that case when a call came in Thursday about the home just east of Ottumwa.

“A deputy sheriff and the city’s animal control officer were out on another residence that might have had some connection to the incident earlier in the week in Ottumwa,” Kirkendall said. Neighbors said the home was bad, but no one was prepared for what they found. “It looks about as nasty as you can imagine. There’s feces all over.”

The owner, Suzette Stocker, voluntarily signed over possession of the animals to the authorities. That helped. Authorities had a warrant, but Stocker’s signature meant they didn’t have to use it.

The conditions visibly stunned Ottumwa Animal Control Officer Jeff Williams.

“Never [seen one] like this. Never,” he said.

Cheri Staebler drove past the confusion on her way home. She lives near the Stocker residence. She pulled her SUV up and rolled down a window to ask what was happening.

Staebler knew there were a lot of dogs at the house at one time, but that seemed to change this winter.

“Lately all I’ve seen was a couple dogs out and I wondered where all the dogs were,” she said. “I used to see, sometimes in the summer, maybe 15 animals.”

Authorities kept bringing dogs out, carrier after carrier. Nineteen in all. They brought out individual dogs when they could.

The animals’ conditions varied. Some appeared to be in reasonably good shape. They were healthy and alert. Others moved slowly, tails tucked between their legs. An officer in full HazMat gear held an emaciated white dog. The dog’s nails curled more than an inch past its toes. It was losing its hair.

Another dog had sores on its legs. It didn’t want to go into a carrier, but it didn’t bark or even raise its lip in protest as people guided it inside.

Heartland Humane Society is already overcrowded. They called in help from other areas. Cedar Valley responded. They’ll take 30 or 40 animals. Hudek said others may also have space.

As of Friday, authorities had not filed charges against Stocker. Kirkendall said that will wait until after consultations with the county attorney. A veterinarian will check the dogs before they go to new shelters.

Their future past there remains uncertain.