Nearly 200 chihuahuas recovered from Benton, PA home

Two men in central Pennsylvania are accused of animal hoarding after authorities recovered nearly 200 dogs and more than 30 dead dogs from a home.

Dog wardens, along with Pennsylvania State Police, executed a search warrant at the home of Albert and Thomas Ambrosia in Benton, Columbia County, on Thursday after receiving numerous complaints. They removed 187 dogs, most of them chihuahuas, which they said were living in deplorable conditions. The animals had skin, eye and dental health issues.

Officials also found about 30 dead dogs in a freezer, according to a Department of Agriculture spokeswoman.

“In a hoarder situation, I would say this is one of the largest we’ve seen,” said Nicole Bucher. She said officials are not sure how the animals were obtained.

“Some of the animals were spayed and neutered, while others were not, so I suspect that was one the ways they were acquired, through breeding.”

Most of the animals have been picked up by shelters across the state, Bucher said.

The Ambrosias are expected to face animal cruelty charges.