The Humane Society of North Texas says it's seeing more rescue group volunteers take on too many animals and become overwhelmed.
On Thursday morning, rescue groups came to the aid of a Tarrant County couple who had nearly 100 animals inside their home.
From the outside, you would never know that the two-story home in unincorporated Tarrant County housed 80 to 90 animals, mostly cats.
"For an individual in a home trying to take care of them by themselves, it's a recipe for disaster," said Peggy Brown of the Humane Society of North Texas.
The couple, who live in the 9700 block of Corral Drive, broke no laws. The county has no limit on the number of pets that can be in a home, as long as no animal cruelty is taking place.
Sheriff's deputies were at the home to check for animal cruelty, but it appears there will be no charges.
The couple volunteered as fosters for several rescue groups. They took care of animals before adopting them out but simply got overwhelmed and then asked for help.
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"They're good people," neighbor Laurie Tower said. "It's just in the last two years, it's really gotten out of control. I know in her heart she thinks she's doing the right thing, but it's not."
The Humane Society said it is not the first time they've dealt with such a case. The group said it saw more than a dozen similar situations last year alone.
"We're seeing a lot more of these hoarder cases since the advent of social media," Brown said. "A lot of people see the pleas [of] 'this animal is going to die tomorrow' and get in over their heads and take on more animals than they can handle."
Fort Worth Animal Care and Control has seen similar cases, too. The city shelter and the Humane Society have taken in the dogs and cats.
Everyone involved said they are worried for the animals and the homeowners, as well.
"It's sad; it's sad on every level," Tower said.
Fort Worth Animal Control said the couple was adopting out the animals but were apparently taking in more than they could handle.
