HOUSTON – Investigators are looking for a woman who's accused of locking dozens of animals in cages, and then abandoning them without food and water. 

Animal Cruelty investigators said the conditions inside a southwest Harris County mobile home were the worst they've seen in years.

"Since 2003, this has got to be the most appalling conditions I've ever experienced in an animal cruelty case,” said Lieutenant Mark Timmers, Animal Cruelty Investigator.

According to the investigators, the woman who owned the sweltering mobile home left behind 40 or more sick and starving animals, and inches of feces on the floor.

"Usually we don't have to wear breathing masks, but this is one of those cases where you can't even enter without having a mask over your face," said Timmers.

The smell was so strong it burned your eyes. 

"It's pretty sad. It's the worst I've seen ever," said Timmers.

More than a dozen of the animals that were trapped inside didn't survive.

Masilda Deats lived next door for thirty years. She said her neighbor took in strays and never asked for help.

“She never told me about the animals dying inside, but I did know she had a lot of animals,” said Deats.

Investigators said the woman didn’t sleep in the filthy trailer, and she used a hose for a shower. She lived like this until last Friday when she disappeared, leaving the animals with no food or water in the Texas heat.