SAINT HELENS, Ore. -- Animal control officials removed 26 dogs from “bad conditions” at a home in Columbia County after the homeowner herself asked for help, police said Monday.

The property owner told authorities that she had become hospitalized and could not attend to her large number of dogs for two days. When animal control responded to the property on Delena-Mayger Road, between Clatskanie and Rainier Oregon, they said fecal waste was piled over a half-foot in many locations it looked like one dead dog had been killed by the others.

“We could only open the door a foot and a half because there was so much waste piled up on the other side that literally we were pushing and shoving to get the door to open far enough for us to go inside the home,” officer Roger Kadell said. The waste was six- to eight inches high and it buried some household items.

“Many of the dogs were in poor conditions and covered with fecal waste,” Kadell added. He described the property as “the worst conditions he had ever been seen in his career in law enforcement.”

The 26 dogs, ranging in age from six months to 15 years, were captured and taken to the Columbia County Animal Shelter in St. Helens, where each was examined and will be prepared for future adoption once ownership can be relinquished, Kadell said.

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“All of them wreaked and were covered in fecal waste, especially longer haired dogs. They had mats and clumps of dog fecal matter stuck to them,” added Kadell said. Some of them also had bite marks.

The shelter normally maintains less than 10 dogs and considers 25 dogs to be their normal maximum number. Shelter officials said donations of funds to assist in paying for worming medications, DHLPP, and others vaccinations would be greatly appreciated. Several of the animals will also require veterinary care and other costs associated with caring for neglected animals.

“The County Animal Shelter hopes to adopt out or find rescues for these dogs as soon as possible. Most of the dogs seem friendly although a little scared. Under the circumstances, they lack manners when it comes to being inside a home. Most may need to be maintained as outside dogs, but several puppies can be trained as good household pets,” Kadell said.

The owner of the dogs was cooperating with Animal Control and the District Attorney's office and possible animal neglect charges were pending.