Owners of a Charlo kennel are likely facing felony animal cruelty charges after the Lake County Sheriff’s Office searched the facility Tuesday morning and found more than 100 dogs living in cages.

Charges against Larry and Nadine Latzke are anticipated later in the week, according to authorities.

Lake County Sheriff Don Bell said the dogs were evaluated and those deemed in possible need of immediate care were taken to a veterinarian.

“Deputies had been there multiple times over the years,” Bell said. “But they had never been able to search and look at the dogs.”

One of the people on the scene Tuesday was Karen Duty, president of Life Savers Animal Rescue in Polson. Duty said 11 dogs were taken from the kennel and all but four were returned home. Those four are in the care of the nonprofit animal rescue group.

“We were only able to take the dogs that were in need of immediate vet care,” Duty said. “We all agreed their living situations are horrible.”

Duty said that the dogs were kept in double or triple-decker cages with trays that caught feces and urine. While they had food and water, Duty said, the living conditions were bleak.

“They’ve never had an opportunity to be on the ground,” Duty said.

Walking on the ground appeared to be a strange sensation for the dogs, Duty said. While the dogs weren’t afraid of people and did not show symptoms of physical abuse, it will likely take extra effort to socialize them, she said.

Life Savers Animal Rescue is accepting applications for families who would be willing to foster the dogs. The group does not have a building, but consists of volunteers around the valley who offer time to foster dogs until permanent homes can be found.

The Charlo kennel has six months to improve its conditions or the remaining dogs might have to be rescued, Duty said. That means that in January there could be an influx of animals in need of homes.

“We really need to broaden our base of foster homes for emergencies like this,” Duty said.

According to the website for the Latzkes’ kennel, “We specialize in expert puppy care and customer satisfaction. All of our puppies are well socialized and receive the utmost in loving and nutritional care – ensuring your new friend is healthy and happy.”

The website lists Chihuahua, Havanese, Maltese, Shih Tzu, and Yorkshire terrier as available breeds.

The kennel was featured in the August 2007 edition of the Kennel Spotlight, a dog breeding newsletter.

The article said Nadine Latzke has raised dogs since 1985 and the couple moved to Montana in 2002.

The kennel had a 300-dog capacity and was the family’s main source of income, according to the story.