Commerce City police officers removed three young children and nearly three dozen animals living in “squalor” at a home in the Dunes Park neighborhood on 113th Avenue just west of U.S. 85, according to a release Thursday.
Police initially responded to a report that Demetrio Urbina, 38, had performed an unlicensed veterinary procedure on a dog that later died. They obtained a search warrant on the house and discovered what they described as “deplorable conditions” that forced them to put on hazmat gear and call in for backup from other agencies.
Child Protective Services was brought in to care for three children, ages 3 to 10, belonging to Urbina and his wife, Araceli Urbina, 32.
Working with Adams County Animal Control, police officers removed 31 dogs and puppies, which were mostly housed in small cages in the garage, as well as two cats and two guinea pigs. The animals were relocated to area shelters.
They also said officers found the body of a deceased dog in a trash can outside, with one of its paws sticking out.
Among the charges the Urbinas face are Felony Animal Cruelty, Child Abuse, Practicing a Profession Without a License and Operating a Pet Facility Without a License.
Police confirmed that they had responded to 10 animal-related complaints and issued 13 parking citations at the home over the past three years, according to Denver7.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Department of Agriculture are also assisting in the case, which the department said remains an open investigation and may result in more charges.