98 dogs, 3 cats rescued from house in Cottrellville Twp.

Dozens of dogs were removed from a filthy home in Cottrellville Township in Saint Clair County. 

Sheriffs deputies responded to the home after neighbors complained of a foul odor and constant barking. Deputies found about 75 dogs in the 1,200 square foot house, including Norwegian buhunds and Norrbottenspets.

The dogs appeared to be in good overall physical condition, but they were covered in feces and urine from the poor living conditions.

"Really, what set it off was the stench," says neighbor Greg Bosel. "It just got to be so nasty, the stench. You couldn't sit outside and enjoy yourself if the wind was blowing in the wrong direction."  

The sheriff tells us all of the dogs were removed from the house and a criminal invesigation has been opened.

"They were breeding dogs; showing dogs; wrestling dogs. I think, somewhere along the line, things got out of control," says St. Clair County Sheriff Timothy Donnellon. "The dogs were all free running on the first floor of the home."

The sheriff's office says some of the dogs were seized Tuesday, but an animal control officer who returned Wednesday to take the remaining animals was refused entry. Authorities obtained a search warrant and seized the remaining dogs Wednesday afternoon.

UPDATE: Authorities now say 98 dogs and three cats were rescued from the home. 

The Times Herald of Port Huron reports some were taken to the county animal shelter. The Norwegian Buhund Club of America arranged temporary housing for others.

The homeowners, a husband and wife, could face animal cruelty charges.

Cottrelleville Township is about 50 miles northeast of Detroit.

The Associated Press contributed to this report