UPDATE: 16 dogs euthanized after being removed from alleged hoarding house in Las Cruces

Of the 36 dogs taken from an alleged hoarding house, 16 have been euthanized, officials with the Mesilla Valley Animal Services said Tuesday.

Dr. Beth Vesco-Mock, director of Mesilla Valley Animal Services, told ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile News room the 16 dogs, who ranged from puppies to adults, were euthanized with because of medical or behavioral issues.

“We did not think it was safe for the community, or humane for them to put them through the stress of being in a confined area dealing with humans,” Vesco-Mock said Tuesday.

On Jan. 5, Dona Ana County officials removed a total of 36 Shepherd dogs from a home at 3620 Southwind Road.

Vesco-Mock said 10 of the dogs were taken to the rescue, six are in the Mesilla Valley Animal Service’s foster-to-adopt-program and four are at the shelter. Two of the dogs were initially adopted, but have since been returned to the shelter.

Vesco-Mock said the goal is to find a home for every dog, but acknowledged that it could take time for some of the dogs to be ready.

“Coming in the a shelter, period, is extremely traumatic,” Vesco-Mock said. “You need to understand what happened to these dogs,”

The New Mexico Mobile Newsroom that former Dona Ana County Fire Marshal Robert Monsivaiz bought the property back in April and has since been in a legal dispute with an occupant who would not leave the home.

Monsivaiz said he finally got inside the home this week when county officials moved in to remove the dogs.

ABC-7 News Operations Manager Tom Scott went inside the home with Monsivaiz and Scott reported there was a much as a 6-inch layer of feces covering most of the 3,000 square foot home. Scott described the smell inside the home as “unbearable.”

“So their master, the king of their pack, the head of their pack is gone. And then strangers came into their home, picked them up, put them in traps … and then they brought them in to a total different environment,” Vesco-Mock said. “So it’s all extremely traumatic for them. Some act differently. Some are shy and hide in the corner and refuse to eat. Other ones will lash out at you and try to bite you. And others adapt very quickly if they’ve had any socialization they do very very well.”

Vesco-Mock added that she felt the remaining dogs could adapt into society and could be happy in a home and could be safe for the family to adopt.

Doa Ana County spokesman Jess Williams said charges are pending against the person living in Monsivais’ house.