GARY | Six dogs left inside an abandoned, feces-laden home in Miller were removed Thursday morning and transported to Gary Animal Control, police spokesman Lt. Samuel Roberts said.

A seventh dog, who escaped from city Animal Control officers, was in the Gary neighborhood and was expected to be picked up by a resident, Roberts said.

The other six dogs, most of whom are border collies or border collie mixes, appeared to be in good health, Roberts said.

"There was no appearance of their rib cages showing or signs of malnourishment," he said.

Bobby and Louella Justice, the couple listed on the mailbox of the home, have not been reached by city officials, Roberts said. The couple could face criminal citations for apparently abandoning the animals, he said.

Lake County property records list a William G. Justice as the homeowner. Gary Health Department death records indicate William G. Justice died in January.

Roberts said the owners will be given five business days to reclaim the dogs.

If the dogs aren't claimed by the owners, the animals could be placed for adoption or transported to another humane society, he said.

City Animal Control officers were advised not to enter the house Tuesday morning without permission of the homeowners, City Attorney Jerome Taylor said.

The officers left a notice on the home requesting the homeowners contact them, Roberts said. Taylor said he gave approval Thursday for the dogs to be rescued.

Neighbor Pauline Brown said she initially contacted police about the abandoned dogs more than a week ago.

"I'm thankful they did their job. It's too bad it took over a week to get the dogs," she said.

On Tuesday, Brown and local rescue workers retrieved four puppies from the house. Brown said she kept one of the four puppies and named it Sara.

The other three puppies were taken to the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana.