Washington County Sheriff officials say last week they found a local woman in poor health and living in deplorable conditions in home on Long Run Road in Newport, Ohio.

Authorities say they also found more than 50 cats and dogs on the property.

Now, the Washington County Health Department is stepping in with its concerns.

In a letter to Craig Sharp, the property owner, Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Meckstroth recommended that the property at 1815 Long Run Road in Newport should not be inhabited until a thorough cleaning and restoration of the property has taken place.

The letter states that the home is unfit for Dorothy, Sharp's mother, to live in.

As for the property on 1855 Long Run Road, the health department recommends that the home be destroyed to eliminate any future rodents, pets, or feral cats that could be a potential source of disease for both animals and humans.

The letter states the home is in a state where it may cost more to repair the home than the home would be worth.

It also says the animals were permitted to urinate and defecate throughout both residences.

The Washington County Dog Warden officials say they have charged 51-year-old Steven Sharp with five counts of animal cruelty.

Last week Sharp was charged with failing to provide care for a functionally impaired person from the sheriff's department.

Authorities say last Tuesday they found his mother, 80-year-old Dorothy Sharp, in poor health and there was a thick layer of feces on the floor.

Sharp was arrested and released on a personal recognizance bond last week.