LIVERMORE – State animal welfare representatives seized seven animals Friday from a home in Livermore. The state was concerned about the conditions the animals were kept in and plan to go to court for permanent custody of two dogs and five cats.

The animals are being housed at the Franklin County Animal Shelter in Farmington.

State Animal Welfare Director Norma Worley said the state will present its case Wednesday in Lewiston District Court. It will also set up a hearing for permanent custody of the animals, she said.

Worley said the state received a request from a family member to remove the animals. The family member stated the situation was deplorable, Worley said.

Animal welfare agents went to the home Friday.

“It was bad,” Worley said. Charges are pending, she said.

A small miniature poodle that was seized was terribly matted and has long toenails, Worley said.

There was also a chow/Akita type dog, an adult gray cat, and four kittens about 4 months old – one gray and three orange tabbies.

The cats were extremely thin, Worley said, but the biggest concern was the conditions they were kept in.

“It is probably one of the worst cases of accumulated urine and feces I’ve ever seen,” Worley said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if they have to knock down the house to get the smell out.”

Patty Lovell, the manager of the animal shelter, held the white poodle in her arms at the shelter Tuesday. The dog, which came to the shelter with no name, was shaking as it snuggled its nose under Lovell’s neck. The poodle had large chunks of matted fur.

Shelter staff named the dog Esmeralda after Quasimodo’s girlfriend in the “Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

The dog is shy and skittish but was doing much better since it arrived at the shelter, Lovell said.

The shelter could use some donations of Pedigree dry dog food and Purina dry cat food, she said.

Six dogs that were abandoned in the East Dixfield section of Wilton have also been brought to the shelter, Lovell said.