Animal control removes nearly 200 animals from Zebulon home

Renee Jean Long, who owns the property on Carlyle Road, declined to be interviewed as animal control officers removed dogs, ducks, pigeons and chickens from the home. Authorities said that Long surrendered the animals, but that charges were likely to be filed against her.

"It's completely heartbreaking to see what these animals have been through," said Kim Alboum, state director for the Humane Society of the United States.

She characterized the operation as a puppy mill.

"She was breeding and selling dogs on the Internet," Alboum said. "This is an environment where the animals were being bred, not for their health and welfare, but for the money."

A complaint from a neighbor about an animal carcass stuck to a fence, a foul odor and large rats on the property prompted the investigation. Authorities found three dead puppies and three others with Parvo, a highly contagious and deadly disease, had to be euthanized.

The rescued animals were taken to various animal shelters across the state.