Several dogs that animal control officials say were neglected are now in an eastern Kentucky shelter.

The director of the Floyd County Animal Shelter says at least ten dogs are in their care and say they're looking for dozens more.

One witness said the smell from the alleged puppy mill was so strong it burned her lungs.

She said she saw at least 50 dogs inside a trailer in Floyd County that were bred under filthy conditions, and claims the dogs' owner left them without food or water for days.

The Floyd County Animal Shelter has 10 dogs from the alleged puppy mill, after two were put to sleep because of their poor health. One witness said she saw kennels stacked on top of each other inside the owner's home and one of her family members turned them in.

“She said the feces was so thick you could not walk. She said there were probably 20 dogs that ran up and were jumping all over her and they were caked with feces, they were matted,” Terry Hayes said.

Some dogs were seized from the home, others were turned over by the owner and all of them were in poor health.

“You've got to make sure that these animals are vaccinated, these animals have well caring. They are fed daily. They are wormed they are cared for and not just stuck in a cage on top of each other,” Kathy Mullins said.

Hayes now believes the owner could be hiding the rest of her dogs.

“She had told one neighbor she had about 80 dogs she needed to place until this blew over,” Hayes said.

The owner of the dogs would not talk to us on camera but says she only has about 20 dogs which she feeds daily.

“I think she should be forced to surrender the dogs that she has, and I don't think she should be able to have any more animals,” Hayes said.

Mullins plans to prosecute the dog owner.

“I'm going to court and taking it to the fullest extent and shut the puppy mill down,” Mullins said.

The owner of the dogs says she loves her animals and hopes to get at least some of her dogs returned soon.

It's important to emphasize that the dog owner has not been charged with anything.

Mullins says the dogs at the shelter are being treated for malnutrition, mange and sores.

She hopes to put the dogs up for adoption when they are healthy enough.