Two apparent dog-breeding sites raided in Phila.

Police serving a narcotics warrant Thursday afternoon discovered a hoard of small dogs stowed inside two filthy Port Richmond rowhouses.

Officers found 33 dogs - many caked in feces - in two homes on the 2000 block of East Victoria Street. Ten dogs were found in one home, 23 in another home about three houses away, said an SPCA spokeswoman.

With the exception of a Husky and a Chow Chow, the dogs included Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, several small Maltese-like, and poodle mixes, said the SPCA's Wendy Marano, adding that most of the dogs appeared to be well-fed.

"It has the appearance of an illegal breeding operation," Marano said. "We think people were breeding them to sell them and it got out of control."

Many of the dogs ran loose inside the homes. But where the 23 were found, seven of the dogs were locked in a bathroom and another eight were corralled in the basement. The remaining dogs were housed in various crates and kennels and covered with excrement.

Marano said investigators have not determined how the two operations were connected.

Humane officers seized the animals and took them to the SPCA's North Philadelphia headquarters where veterinarians will examine them, Marano said.

The majority of the animals will be offered for adoption. "These are very desirable breeds," Marano said.