The case of an alleged animal hoarder is making its way through the court system, and the 28 dogs and three cats removed from a St. Clairsville residence are receiving care.

The animals’ owner was in Belmont County Western Division Court on Tuesday before Judge Eric Costine, who noted that there is no case number in the matter at this time.

“This is a search warrant,” he said. “There are no charges filed in this matter. All there is is the search warrant. … This matter today is set for a probable cause hearing on the confiscation of certain companion animals.”

The animals were seized when the search warrant was executed.

Costine continued the case for two weeks and ordered the defendant to provide the humane organization Belmont County Hoof & Paw with 15 bags of dog food in lieu of a cash bond.

Julie Larish, humane agent with Hoof & Paw, consulted with the judge and agreed. Larish and group volunteers took possession of the animals July 4. She said they had been kept in filthy conditions, perhaps for a period of years, and would be in need of long-term care.

“They are slowly coming along. We are getting all the diarrhea under control. Many of them are on vet care. We have some severe anemia issues going on, but we are working on them,” she said. “We had two that were near death with anemia. The vet said two more days they would have been dead.”

Larish thanked the public for an outpouring of support to help care for the large number of animals.