Police Find Over 100 Animals Living In 'Squalor' Inside Missing Man's Home

The search for a missing man took a surprising turn Wednesday after the police and rescue personnel found over 100 animals living in his South Houston house.

According to Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch, an organization that assisted the South Houston police, the animals were living in squalor. "There are birds. There are turtles. There are cats. There are dogs. There are ducks. There are chickens," Miller told Click2Houston.

At the time, the team was searching for 41-year-old Ruben Sanchez who went missing three days ago.

Measures were taken immediately for the safe removal of animals. The Houston SPCA was called and the animals were transported to a local shelter.

According to South Houston police Detective Armando Valdez, the condition of the house has made it tough to search for evidence owing to the "hoarder type situation."

"It’s hard to move, a lot of old furniture, trash, a lot of animals, it’s really cluttered," Valdez was quoted by Click2Houston, as saying.

The search for Sanchez entered the third day Wednesday. According to his wife Rubi Tamez, Sanchez struggled with mental health issues. She told police that Sanchez suffered traumatic brain injuries in a car accident in April.

"He’s out there. He could be hurt and injured I know he’s in pain. I know he needs his medication. It’s devastating it’s something that you can’t explain there are no words," Tamez told the news outlet.

However, reports said there are some conflicting stories about how the man went missing and the police said the home might be a potential crime scene.

"No idea what happened to Ruben. He didn’t have his wallet, his phone, didn’t have anything, according to his wife. He just left on his own," Miller told Click2Houston.

Meanwhile, South Houston police have issued a lookout for the missing man. A report by KHOU said Sanchez was last seen wearing blue basketball shorts and a tan t-shirt. He has very short black hair and walks with a limp. He is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds, the report added.

Those with information regarding his whereabouts have been urged to contact the South Houston police at 713-944-1910 or Texas EquuSearch at 281-309-9500.