Couple arrested after animals, children found living in 'squalor'

A Commerce City couple has been arrested after police found young children and dozens of animals living in "squalor."

On Wednesday, the Commerce City Police Department responded to a home in the 10200 block of East 113th Avenue to serve a search warrant, police said. When officers arrived, they found three young children and 35 animals inside the home, living in "deplorable conditions," police said.

Animal Control officers seized 31 dogs and puppies who were mostly confined to small cages inside the garage, according to police. Two cats and two guinea pigs were also taken from the home, police said. Police also found the body of a dog inside a trash can that was outside the home, according to police.

Police originally responded to the home after 39-year-old Demetrio Urbina was accused of performing an unlicensed veterinary procedure on a dog who then died, police said.

Urbina and his wife, 32-year-old Araceli Urbina, were arrested Wednesday. Both face charges of felony animal cruelty, child abuse, practicing a profession without a license and operating a pet facility without a license, police said.

The children were taken into protective custody, and police said they are working with Child Protective Services on the case. The animals were taken to Riverdale Animal Shelter.