(Radio Iowa) – A southeast Iowa couple has been charged with animal neglect after dozens of dogs and hamsters were rescued from their home last month. An administrator at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa has said the smell of urine was overpowering inside the home in Lee County, near the town of Argyle, as a team rescued 42 dogs and puppies and 40 hamsters three weeks ago. According to a news release from the Lee County Sheriff, David and Gina Sams were told last month to clean up and organize the property and begin to thin the number of animals they were keeping.

After a welfare check this week, the couple was arrested and charged with seven counts of animal neglect. The couple has surrendered another group of animals — dogs, cats, goats, horses, donkeys, ducks, chickens, geese, a peacock, turkey, rabbits, a pig, a hedgehog, lizards and a chinchilla.