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Several animals were removed from a Louisville residence following an animal cruelty complaint on Thursday to the Blount County Sheriff's Office.

A dog, two puppies, a goat and a ram, now have new homes after a property owner found them living in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. The animals belonged to a renter.

Two puppies tethered inside a barn on two-foot chains were tangled, unable to get away from their own urine and feces, one witness told deputies.

There were several dead chickens near the puppies and around the property, according to a Blount County Sheriff's Office report. In addition, a dog was tied to a tree on a 6-foot-chain, able to get to a dog house, but provided with water that was "undrinkable," said a witness. The tree had been hit by lightning recently, according to neighbors.

Kenneth Shelton, vice president for the Blount County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), said the animals were removed on Friday. Of the two farm animals, the goat appeared OK, he said. The ram had about 18 pounds of wool and had to have his coat sheared.

"It was just miserably hot," said Shelton, who also is also director of animal cruelty investigations for the non profit.

He said the dog and her two puppies were not dehydrated, but the SPCA in Blount County has been getting a lot of calls about people leaving animals without enough water. Shelton said owners should make sure animals get water, and that they get it several times a day.