ORANGE COUNTY, Florida. – Twenty-three dogs and two cats were seized from an Orange County home on Wednesday, the largest animal seizure since the beginning of the year, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office, with assistance from Orange County Animal Services, responded to the 700 block of West Kaley Avenue around 1:30 p.m. to begin an animal cruelty investigation, a spokesman said in a statement.

The animal shelter reported that it took in a total of 85 pets on Wednesday alone, including 45 dogs.

“This has overwhelmed our shelter and in order to accommodate these dogs, we need people to step forward and be willing to care for our existing, available shelter animals. We need adopters and foster parents,” said Diane Summers, director of OCAS, in a statement.

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The shelter urged anyone who knows of animal cruelty to report it on the shelter’s website or anonymously through the Orange County 311 helpline or Crimeline.

This year alone, OCAS officers have assisted local law enforcement with 170 investigations, resulting in the seizure of 407 animals, according to the shelter. The dogs seized Wednesday will be held indefinitely, according to a press release.

“Almost every one of these cases started because someone was brave enough to pick up the phone and make an anonymous report,” Summers said. “We want to thank these individuals because their single action made all the difference for these pets who were in immediate danger.”

For more information and opportunities to adopt or foster a pet, visit the OCAS website.

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