The Pennsylvania SPCA executed a search warrant Friday at a residence in Lehigh County, removing eight dogs and puppies, 35 cats and kittens, and five horses.

The PSPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement Officers, acting on a tip of numerous animals being kept in unsanitary conditions, and concerns of animals in need of veterinary care being left untreated, executed the warrant at property belonging to Derbe “Skip” Eckhart on the 6800 block of Central Road in New Tripoli.According to the search warrant, the PSPCA was acting on a tip that animals were living in their own urine and feces, suggesting the property had not been cleaned for several weeks or longer.According to court papers, the tip said that the stalls in the barn had several inches of feces in them, prohibiting the movement of the livestock.The search warrant said several diseases were present, including cats with ringworm, goats with pink eye and animals with intestinal diseases such as giardia.One dog was reported to have ribs and spine showing, and a few horses were underweight with ribs showing.A horse was reported to have an infected leg, and a poodle inside the house was reported to have an infected eye that was crusted shut, according to the search warrant filed with Lehigh County.The majority of the animals were transported to the PSPCA’s Philadelphia headquarters to be further evaluated by the veterinary staff and to receive any necessary medical treatment.Three of the horses were diverted to the PSPCA’s Central PA Center at Danville, where they will also receive further medical evaluation and care.“Our team of Humane Law Enforcement officers is familiar with this location,” said Nicole Wilson, Director of Humane Law Enforcement at the Pennsylvania SPCA.“It is our hope that we can make a difference in the lives of the animals we rescued.”The investigation is ongoing, and charges are pending.The animals rescued have not been surrendered and will remain in the care of the PSPCA until the adjudication of their court case, or until they are signed over by the owner.