State police, assisted by five local animal rescue shelters, have removed 53 small dogs from a Lehighton residence.

The dogs, all Yorkshire terriers were found living inside the owner's mobile home and a series of makeshift kennels on the property. Their owner is expected to be charged, according to officials who assisted with the rescue.

The dogs are not facing any imminent danger, however collectively they require a large amount of veterinary care for skin and eye conditions, according to Donna Crum, an animal control officer who volunteered to help move the animals. They are not spayed or neutered.

A group of five shelters have stepped up to house the animals. Several of them are asking the public for donations to help the dogs.

State Troopers executed a search warrant at a home in the Lehighton area around 1 p.m. Wednesday, Crum said.

Assisted by volunteers and dog law officer George Nixon, they spent eight hours removing 40 animals from the mobile home and kennels located outside.

Crum, an animal cruelty officer for the Carbon County Friends Of Animals who assisted with the rescue as a volunteer, had to return to the property on Thursday after more dogs were found, and ended up taking another 13.

Crum said the animals inside the house were living in a hoarder situation and were going to the bathroom on the floor. The animals outside were living in cages covered with tarps.

The dog's owner is expected to face a long list of charges for violating state dog law, and animal cruelty statutes. Crum said the owner is an elderly woman who got in over her head trying to help the animals.

There is also a feral cat population on the property, Crum said.

She pointed out that none of the animals showed signs of starvation.

The dogs were taken to several local animal rescues, where they will be rehabilitated and eventually put up for adoption. She said placing the cats will be more difficult than the popular Yorkies.

Crum said that the case represents the fifth time in since she has been on the job in Carbon County -- around 2008 -- that she removed more than 30 dogs in a home.

"I'm getting a lot of experience," she said. "Unfortunately this is not the way I would like to get it. But it gives you a sense of relief as those carriers are driven off, that they can find a forever home."

Shelters seeking donations

Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, Pine Grove has asked for donations at

https://www.gofundme.com/rc8um8https://www.gofundme.com/rc8um8 They can be reached at (570) 345-3540.Camp Papillon, in Hamilton Township has a paypal button available at

www.camppapillon.org. Checks can be mailed to Camp Papillon Animal Shelter 128 Brainerd Lane, Stroudsburg, PA 18360.Creature Comforts can be reached at creaturecomfortsvet.net, or by calling 570-992-0400.Starting Over Animal Rescue in Schnecksville is looking for foster homes, cash donations, and in-kind donations such as grooming services.DONATIONS can be sent to:Starting Over Animal RescueP.O. Box 286Schnecksville, PA 18078OR by visiting

www.startingoveranimalrescue.org and clicking on the donate through PAYPAL button.Animal Shelter of Carbon, a group of local residents who foster animals, can be reached by searching facebook for "Friends of Animal Shelter of Carbon"