T-L Photo/SHELLEY HANSON THE SIGN placed on the home by the city of Martins Ferry states the South Zane Highway property is under violation of property maintenance codes, is deemed a safety hazard and is unfit for habitation.

MARTINS FERRY — The city of Martins Ferry was forced to condemn a house Tuesday after officials found unfit living conditions for more than 20 animals and at least two people living there.

Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland said the Belmont County Animal Rescue League had received a call or complaint about a possible vicious dog being at the home. When they arrived to check on the situation they discovered much more.

“Things were pretty bad, that’s when they called us,” McFarland said.

McFarland said 18 pets were taken from the home, and adult protective services also was called in to help.

“One was elderly for sure. I think it’s a mother-daughter type of situation,” he noted.

The Belmont County Health Department also was called to the scene, he said.

The house is located at 623 S. Zane Highway.

“Nineteen dogs and two cats were removed from the house,” McFarland said.

He noted there have been issues with animals at this particular address in the past.

BCARL has had a busy past few weeks with calls to help animals across the county. Besides Tuesday’s case in Martins Ferry, the group recently took animals from a Bellaire home with deplorable living conditions, officials said.

In the Bellaire case, there were also eight children, belonging to three different families, who were removed from the home.

Six of the children were placed with other family members and two children were put into foster care in that case.