On Wednesday night, police were dispatched to the South Terry Street home of Jerry Welch, 64, and Charmion Burton, 35, after getting a call to check on the welfare of their son.

When police arrived to one of the homes the couple shares, they said they found the home in deplorable conditions with filthy rooms and dying dogs and cats.

Police and officials from the Montgomery County’s Animal Resource Center said they removed a dozen cats and dogs barely clinging to life and one that died in the house.

Investigators said Welch and Burton have been charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty each. On Thursday morning, prosecutors refused to approved charges; however, that changed when new evidence was submitted to prosecutors.

Neighbor Linda Schacherer said the home smelled “horrid” and saw police carry out the animals.

Mark Kumpf, Montgomery County Animal Resource Center director, said what Welch and Burton did was hoard animals in horrible living conditions.

“There were a lot of trash and debris in their house and when they were taken into custody this evening the mini van they were driving with their child was filled to the top with trash,” Kumpf said.

Both Welch and Burton were charged in 2005 with felony animal cruelty after Dayton police found a dog in their care partially frozen to ground on Geyer Avenue.

Welch told police that he owned the house but was not living there. He said he and Burton were living in a motel about 90 minutes away.

Welch and Burton were arrested and are being held in the Montgomery County Jail.

The child was put in custody of Children’s Services.

Also on Thursday, animal resource officers returned to the house to see if they could find any more animals left.