HUNTINGTON, W.Va (WSAZ)-- The woman who owns the building where 5 dogs were found in a vacant apartment earlier this week was in court Thursday.

Barbara Stevens was in Huntington Municipal Court to respond to citations issued by the Cabell-Huntington Health Department.

Tuesday, police responded to a call about a foul odor coming from a 2nd floor apartment in the 600-block of 11th Ave.. Inside the apartment they found 5 Shetland sheep dogs and a cat. They also found several dead animals. Police say the apartment was covered with animal feces.

Stevens was cited for health code violations, and was ordered to return to court on Oct 28 to update he clean-up.

A published report indicates the city is also looking into possible animal cruelty charges against Stevens.

All 5 dogs now have new homes after being taken to local animal shelter following their rescue.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Huntington Police rescued 5 dogs and a cat from a vacant apartment in Huntington.

The animals were in a 2nd floor apartment in the 600 block of 11th Ave.

Police went to the duplex after getting complaints from neighbors about foul odors coming from the building in recent days.

Police say the person living in the first floor apartment, also believed to be the animal’s owner, had apparently moved out in the past couple of weeks.

Officers tell us they monitored the duplex until they were satisfied no one was caring for the animals. Tuesday morning, they knocked on the door and heard the animals inside, so they moved in to rescue them.

Travis Morrison with the animal shelter says the dogs, 5 Shetland sheep dogs, were dirty, matted and needed their nails clipped, but are in otherwise decent shape.

Police say the 2nd floor apartment where the animals were found was filled with feces. They also say they found several dead cats in the apartment.

It’s not clear whether the woman in the first floor apartment was a tenant or owned the building.

Right now, the dogs and cat are evidence in the investigation, so they are not up for adoption.