DONA ANA COUNTY, N.M. -- At first count, more than 500 animals were found on a property on Las Cruces' East Mesa.

There were hundreds of parakeets, dove, chickens, ducks, geese and quail.

That's just the birds. There were also horses, goats, sheep, dogs and cats.

“We have never dealt with a bulk group of birds. We've dealt with roosters, and those are fairly easy to find places for. We've dealt with hoarding cases with cats and dogs and we've dealt with fighting dogs. Birds are new,” said Dona Ana County Animal Control Director Curtis Childress.

Childress said there are resources for these birds.

“The Humane Society of the United States has been a great resource for us and they're bringing in additional groups, avian groups, to hopefully get some of these animals to different locations,” said Childress.

State groups are also helping Dona Ana County.

“I know there is an avian rescue group that's going to come down and hopefully handle all of the pigeons. I'm looking for a place where we can move the chickens and ducks and some of the other farm animals too,” said Heather Ferguson, director of New Mexico Animal Protection.

Dogs on the property will head to the Albuquerque as well.

“This is clearly case of animal cruelty. There is an overwhelming number of animals that are showing clear physical signs of neglect. There are dogs with open sores on the outside of their faces and the horse looks like it is severely malnourished,” said Ferguson.

The homeowners, the Troncosos, are accused of hoarding and abuse, but the charges have not been finalized.

The owners were given a chance to comply last month.

“We tried to get them to reduce the number of animals and to provide the proper care for the animals. Also to get the proper vaccinations for some of the domestic animals that were there,” said Childress.

Neighbors were not aware of the problem until recently.

“Investigators asked if I knew anything that was going on across the street and she said they had animals. I hadn't noticed anything suspicious,” said neighbor Danette Gonzalez. The New Mexico Animal Protection Office said it's heartbreaking, but they have to document each of the animals they have to confiscate.