Two board members of a St. Petersburg animal rescue organization have been arrested for misdemeanor animal cruelty and dozens of animals have been removed from their care.

According to St. Petersburg Police, Patricia Gates Scites, 67, and Veronica Anne Faulseit, 48, are board members of Creatures Great and Small Wildlife Inc., a non-profit organization.

Police say they were keeping numerous animals, including 23 adult dogs, 14 puppies, 14 cats, several raccoons and an opossum, outside the home caged in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions without adequate food and water.

"There's a large pen full of little puppies. They're just crawling through feces. They have no water. Their food is full of bugs,” said SPPD spokesperson Yolanda Fernandez.“And all the animals chained up and outside, they seem to be domesticated friendly animals - they have no water."

We’re told Faulseit ran the organization out of her 4162 13th Ave. North home. Police responded to the home Tuesday morning after receiving complaints from neighbors.

“She claims she's been taking care of them, but it's not evident from what we can see there,” Fernandez said.

Neighbor Barbara Levin said she actually adopted two dogs from Faulseit.

“A lot of the dogs that are going to be put down, she'll take if she can,” she said. “And she's just, she's just trying to do rescue work and it's just not really equipped over there, that house."

Scites and Faulseit are charged with three counts each of misdemeanor animal cruelty. They were transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

Meanwhile, the cats and dogs at Pinellas County Animal Services are currently being processed through the medical department, where a veterinary team is triaging and treating the animals.

Upon initial evaluation, the cats appear to be in fair condition, and none seem to suffer with severe medical conditions. Most of the dogs have medical conditions, ranging from mild to severe, showing signs of cruelty and neglect.

The animals will continue to be cared for at Animal Services until the case is resolved or until the animals are surrendered by the owner.