The Humane Society says one family had 363 animals. The family's neighbors say that family started out with good intentions, only taking a few at a time, but it quickly got out of control.

It took a small army to move the 363 animals -- including dogs, birds, horses, mice, gerbils and coatimundis -- from 85 acres to traveling cages. Authorities say the property has numerous mobile homes that have been lived in but, once they were no longer livable, the residents moved in another one beside it.

Polk County Sheriff Steve Bruce says the family had been given warnings to get the property cleaned up, and provide food, fresh water and medical treatment for the animals. He says the warnings went unheeded.

Court records show a sheriff's deputy visited the property on May 19 and the owner, Virginia Gambriel, told him she takes in animals from people who no longer want them. She refused to let the deputy check inside some of the mobile homes where the animals stayed.

The records show the deputy and a Humane Society of Missouri investigator visited the property on July 16 to talk to Gambriel about the condition of the animlas. They say she told them she didn't feel the animals needed medical treatment and "refused to get any help."

On July 24, the deputy and representatives of the Humane Society and the state Children's Division executed a search warrant at the property. They got a closer look at the filthy conditions in the trailers occupied by the people and the animals. They seized 10 animals that day, including two coatimundis, one of which died two days later from malnutrition.

The Children's Division removed six children from the home on Tuesday. All of the animals were taken to a shelter in St. Louis except for the horses, which were taken to a ranch near Union for rehabilitation.

Law officers say Gambriel, 61, lived there with her daughter and son-in-law and their two children, plus two children from another daughter of Gambriel, and also cared for two children from the second daughter during the day. She is charged with two felony counts of child endangerment for the living conditions of the two grandchildren for whom she had permanent custody. The prosecutor's office says more charges are possible.