More than two dozen dogs are spending the night in the Rowan County Animal Shelter.

Sick and shaking, they look sad and scared.

Officials rescued the pets after an anonymous call led them to a mobile home on Highway 52 in Gold Hill.

Dawn Hager with Animal Control approached the front door first.

"Soon as she opened up the door, the smell almost knocks you out," Hager said. "Feces everywhere, urine everywhere. She doesn't think there's anything wrong with it and keeps saying they're OK and doesn't know why we're upset."

A woman at the home said the animals belonged to Troy Autry, who was arrested and charged with 35 counts of animal cruelty.

On the job for six months, Hager said the scene was horrible and she'd never seen anything like it.

"I called my supervisor and I said I'm kind of overwhelmed here, I don't know what to do," Hager said.

The staff is addressing medical issues: heart worms, ingrown nails and eye infections.

A litter of puppies died.

"There's skin issues. A couple are blind. The air made them throw up," Hager said.

Seven of the dogs have already found new homes, but the rest must be held until a judge decides if Autry can keep them or be forced to let them go.

"After court, I think all of them will be adoptable. All have a good personality; it's just medically if they make it," Hager said.