'Nightmare': Popcorn Park Animal Control Officer Shares Hoarder House Experience

LACEY, NJ — "A nightmare that you feel you just can't wake up from."

Those are the words of an animal control officer who helped rescue 180 dogs and cats from a hoarder situation in Brick this past weekend.

Read more: 180 Dogs, Cats Removed From Brick Home, 2 Arrested: Police

Popcorn Park ACO Maria Cymanski was one of three Associated Humane Societies officers on the scene in Brick Saturday.

Cymanski, along with Associated Humane Tinton Falls officers Javier Vargas and Luis Mercado, got to the Brick house around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday and didn't stop until every single animal was safely removed, according to AHS Popcorn Park.

Now, the officers are being celebrated by AHS, who say that "hero" isn't a strong enough word to describe the three.

"The work that this entailed, which cannot be described now, is completely unimaginable, but they worked as a team along with various agencies, police, fireman, and veterinarians, to rescue every single animal from this residence and transport them to safety," the shelter shared on social media.

Police described the house as having a strong odor and unsanitary conditions, with animals in crates stacked on top of crates, resulting in some animals being covered in the feces of the animals above them. AHS called what the animals endured "indescribable horror."

But the animal control officers just wanted to make sure all animals were taken to safety.

"With every breath that we could barely take, we felt strengthened, knowing that we were going to change the lives of these animals, and let them finally breathe fresh air, sleep on a clean blanket, and finally, go to a good place that they could call home," Cymanski said of the home's conditions.

Sandy Hickman, a spokesperson for Popcorn Park, told Patch that she could not share many details as the investigation is ongoing, but shared the shelter's gratitude.

"We are all just incredibly grateful that these animals are all out of the terrible situation that they were in and finally getting the help and freedom that they deserve," Hickman said.

In all of Cymanski's years as an ACO and from all of the combined years of AHS workers, "very few situations that we've seen compare to the conditions" seen in Brick this past weekend, the shelter said.

The animals were taken to different sites across Ocean County where they are receiving treatment, but it is unknown when they will be available for adoption. Read more: Dogs, Cats From Brick 'Puppy Mill' Under Ocean County's Care

County shelters are seeking donations to help take care of the massive influx of animals, on top of the ones already awaiting their forever home. Read more: 'Desperate Need': Manahawkin Animal Shelter Asks For Coats, Cash

But in the meantime, Hickman encourages anyone considering fostering or adopting a pet to seize the opportunity.

"NJ shelters are full to capacity and this situation just brings to light the fact that there is such a dire need for people to open their hearts and homes to shelter pets, instead of buying or breeding," she said.

This story contains additional reporting by Karen Wall.