136 Dogs Found In Filthy OC Home; House Declared Uninhabitable

ORANGE COUNTY -- A total of 136 dogs were pulled from allegedly filthy conditions inside a palatial home in a gated community in Orange and are being treated by veterinarians, authorities say.

Orange police said they were contacted by Animal Care officials around 2:20 p.m. Thursday after an anonymous tip of possible animal cruelty. The residents allowed officers to enter the home and conduct a welfare check on the animals.

According to multiple media reports, the dogs were all small breeds, mostly Shih Tzus and Maltese poodles, indicating that the home was being used for dog breeding.

``Based on what was found inside the home, the house was declared uninhabitable,'' according to Sgt. Phil McMullen of the Orange Police Department.

There was little furniture inside the home and ``there was dog excrement, urine all over, inside, on the floor,'' McMullen told KCAL9. ``The smell was unbearable for me. I'm surprised how people can live in that situation.''

``It's all hands on deck,'' Mike Kaviani of Orange County Animal Care told ABC7.``We have staff here... making sure that every single dog is properly cared for, properly housed and we're going to be monitoring them.''

Video from the scene showed Animal Care officials removing dogs from the large home in the 3800 block of East Woodbine Avenue.

Police said the home's two residents, Ed and Jo Reitkopp, were given misdemeanor citations for animal cruelty, but the case was ongoing and further charges were possible.

McMullen said some of the dogs have obvious health problems, but no further information was available on their condition.

City News Service contributed to this report.