NORTHAMPTON - Animal welfare officials say 20 dogs and 10 cats rescued from a city home Friday remain in good health in Boston and Springfield. The incident marked the second time in 13 years local and state officials responded to reports of an overabundance of pets at the residence.

The purebred Irish setters - 10 adult dogs and the same number of 4-week old puppies - and 10 cats were removed from a home at 205 Nonotuck St. after the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Animal Medical Center received a call from a member of the public concerned about the number of animals in the home.

Carol Soltys, 59, who lives in the home, voluntarily surrendered the animals for outside care and adoption, according to city departments involved in the matter. On Tuesday, the dogs continued to receive medical care as well as sterilization procedures.

Meantime, the city's health and building departments declared the home unfit for human habitation until building code and sanitary code violations are remedied.

Of particular concern to Building Commissioner Louis Hasbrouck is the use of extension cords as permanent wiring, the unsafe installation of a wood stove, blocked and obstructed areas and a lack of functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

The city's animal control officer also was involved with the call.

"She understood that she was overwhelmed and made the decision to surrender the dogs because she understood she wanted a better life for them," said Candice H. Lash, a spokeswoman for the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society in Springfield and Leverett.

Lash declined to provide the location of the animal rescue or those involved, citing confidentiality. The Gazette obtained the information from public records.

Soltys could not be reached for comment Tuesday, though she was seen working at the home over the weekend, according to the city's Health Department.

Dakin's adoption center took 16 of the Irish setters, including the mother of 10 puppies rescued from the home. Five of the dogs were in surgery Tuesday being spayed and neutered, while the puppies and their mother were put in foster care with one of the center's volunteers.

The dogs appeared to be on the "thin side," but overall their health was good, Lash said. The organization gave all of the dogs Irish names.

"We would not keep puppies," Lash said. "They need that specialized care, interaction and socialization."

Lash said Dakin is not taking applications for adoption at this time for the Irish setters as they are still being evaluated. She noted it could be quite some time before any of them are available for adoption.

Meantime, MSCPCA-Angell took four adult dogs and 10 cats to Boston, where they are undergoing evaluation, surgery and immunization, according to Rob Halpin, a spokesman for the humane society.

"They're very lovely," Halpin said of the dogs. "We hope they will go up for adoption soon."

Other animals removed

Last week was the not the first time the MSPCA and city officials responded to 205 Nonotuck St. over concerns about too many animals in the home.

In 1998, animal welfare officials removed approximately 100 cats of all ages from the home, from newborn kittens to elderly cats in deteriorating health.

About a dozen of the cats, many of which were in the home's attic, were euthanized. At that time, the animals were removed from the home against the wishes of the Soltys family and it led to an altercation with police and the arrest of Carol Soltys, who became disorderly, according to earlier Gazette reports.

Local officials also reported finding several dogs and birds in the home at the time.

Dan Crowley can be reached at dcrowley@gazettenet.com.