Shih tzus seized from a home at 42 Madison Road in Norridgewock await adoption at Midcoast Humane in Brunswick. The dogs are among the more than 50 shih tzus taken from the home. An investigation is underway, state officials say. Midcoast Humane photo

NORRIDGEWOCK — The state has seized more than 50 dogs — all shih tzus — and a few cats from a house in Norridgewock and is investigating inhumane conditions at the home, officials said.

While the state has yet to release the address of the house, town officials said representatives of the Maine Animal Welfare Program seized the animals at 42 Madison Road.

It was unclear Wednesday when the animal seizures took place.

Norridgewock’s animal control officer, reached by text message, said he was unaware of the situation until Tuesday.

After the state’s seizure, 23 of the dogs were sent to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Westbrook, and nine of the dogs and three cats went in late October to the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, according to Stephanie Kelley, the marketing communications manager for AWS.

“They were very dirty, matted,” Kelley said. “They all needed to be groomed, and several of them have some pretty significant health issues. It was clear that they didn’t receive sufficient veterinary care.”

Midcoast Humane posted on Facebook that beginning Tuesday, 10 of the dogs were available for adoption from its Brunswick shelter.

The situation remains under investigation, according to Jim Britt, the communications director at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The state has declined to release further information about the animal seizure.

Officials at the Animal Refuge League said the organization expects to offer the dogs soon for adoption, and prospective owners need be aware of the responsibility they would be undertaking.

“We are looking forward to placing all of these dogs in new, loving homes, but want to stress they will require extra support from their new families,” the ARL wrote in a Facebook post. “Many of them are under-socialized, have separation anxiety, and are still learning basics like house-training and leash walking. Adopting these dogs will be a significant, but rewarding, responsibility.

“We have already received a lot of interest from potential adopters. We will be making the shih tzus available for adoption individually as we are able to complete necessary care for each of them. We anticipate the first of them being available late this week at the earliest.”