A Round Rock dog breeder is under investigation after her home was raided by animal control officers. More than 40 animals were confiscated and put in protective custody.

Some of the dogs will spend the next several nights at the Austin Humane Society center in North Austin. Others are being cared for by members of local animal rescue groups. No formal criminal charges have been filed at this time. 21 of the 41 dogs were kept at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter. Wednesday morning, all of the long and short haired Chihuahuas, as well as several mixed breeds, were carried out. Each one, loaded into a animal control truck. About an hour later, the dogs were given brief medical reviews at the Austin Humane Society clinic.

“Some of these dogs definitely have problems; there are fleas, hair loss and also reports of positive for heartworms,” said Frances Jonon with the Humane Society.

None of the animals have been put down because of their medical conditions.

The dogs were removed from a Round Rock house Friday -- the home of Jan Winters. She said she has been breeding dogs in her home for more than 10 years and sells them by word of mouth.

“We’ve sent them to New York; we’ve sent them to Florida. To New Jersey,” said Winters.

But her Meadows Drive neighbors voiced complaints.

"It’s been kind of crazy -- lot of barking at night -- neighbor has been complaining he can not get sleep,” said Carlos Ortega.

A search warrant was issued and officers say they found the animals living in wooden crates and in terrible conditions.

“What came to my mind when I got the overall picture of the inside of this house, what you see and what you smell, feted and squalid is what came to mind -- just abhorrent conditions,” said Round Rock Police Spokesman Eric Poteet.

But Winters denies that the house was not clean.

“It’s lived in, I just had surgery 4 weeks ago and I have not been able to do much, right now, but no, it is not unclean,” she said.

Winters was not breaking any local law by having a breeding business in her home.

But investigators say some of the dogs were not registered or vaccinated.

“I want them back, every single one of those dogs, I want back,” said Winters.

On Friday, a judge will determine if the dogs were neglected and if animal cruelty charges will be filed. In June, a dog at the house was diagnosed with Parvo. Each dog is undergoing a complete medical examination by a veterinarian.

Medical expenses are being paid for by a group called Animal Trustees of Austin.