‘Animal collectors’ caught with dozens of living and dead animals in hotel room

• Carolyn Luke, 72, and Timothy Miller, 79, face animal abuse charges
• Dozens of living and dead animals were found in their homes, cars and hotel rooms

A Las Vegas couple is facing animal abuse charges after dozens of live and dead animals were found in their home, car and hotel room.

Carolyn Luke, 72, and Timothy Miller, 79, were arrested in March after police discovered 51 guinea pigs and rabbits – 11 dead – in their car after receiving reports of the bodies.

The discovery prompted a search warrant at their home, where 42 dead animals were found in their freezer, alongside 21 live dogs, 38 live guinea pigs – and a staggering number of stuffed animals.

Investigators also discovered the couple had been kicked out of a nearby hotel due to reports of a “smell of death” emanating from their room.

Once inside the hotel room, officers found 12 more dead dogs, 21 live dogs, 39 guinea pigs and a host of other animals, KLAS reports.

The horror discoveries began after Boulder City police received a tip about alleged animal abuse by the elderly couple, leading officers to stop their car, apparently arresting them for a broken taillight.

The arresting officer said he “observed several pieces of fur” on the center console of the vehicle, before the couple rolled down a window and that they “could smell dead animals inside of the car “.

After finding all 51 animals crammed into the vehicle, Luke allegedly told police they were going to California to give the guinea pigs to a friend.

During the check, the couple also allegedly admitted to police that they would find more animals at their home and in their hotel room in Las Vegas.

In their hotel room, staff had recently kicked the couple out because other residents were complaining about the “smell of death,” with even more live and dead animals inside.

During a search of their home, investigators discovered squalid living conditions with obvious signs of hoarding, with a surprising number of stuffed animals filling their home alongside other trash.

In their freezer, officers found a total of 42 dead animals, including 30 guinea pigs and four dogs. One investigator described it as “the worst” he had ever seen.

Officers described squalid conditions inside the property, noting there were dogs living in their own feces, dirty fish tanks and poorly maintained bird and hamster cages.

Investigators also reportedly suffered burns to their eyes and lungs due to an “ammonia smell” that pervaded the home.

Animal control reportedly made numerous attempts to enter the home before the grisly discoveries, and Luke said she had blocked them in the past because she needed to clean her house.

After their arrest, Miller allegedly said he took the animals from his home to the hotel to “hide them from neighbors and animal control officers.”

Luke also allegedly referred to the animals as “his babies” and claimed they died from heatstroke.

The two retirees now face 14 charges related to animal abuse and are due to appear in court in August.

They were released on probation until their next court date and ordered not to have contact with animals.

The hotel room was allegedly booked a few days before their arrest, and Luke told police she booked it because she was having problems with her neighbor who was complaining about his many pets.

Some of the dead animals were reportedly put in luggage and they said they planned to cremate or bury them.

The surviving animals have since been transferred to an animal shelter, where they appear to be recovering and shelter officials said they are preparing to find new homes.

Animal rights activists expressed shock at the findings, with Animal Foundation CEO Hilarie Gray telling Fox 5 Vegas that their animal hoarding had drastic consequences for pets.

“All sorts of things can happen when so many animals live in such conditions,” she said.

“In this case it was a lot of guinea pigs, dogs, hamsters, birds and even a few turtles.”