Nearly two dozen filthy and starving dogs were rescued from a Houston home emitting an “unbearable” stench after officers found their owner had died “several days” earlier.

The welfare check on Sept. 27 for the 52-year-old man led to the discovery of 22 canines by Harris County Sheriff’s deputies.

Deputies forced their way into the home after there were signs of decomposition and a putrid smell from the home, a sheriff’s spokesperson told the Houston Chronicle.

The unidentified man was dead for “several days” and had a “variety of medical issues and was a social recluse, as described by family members,” spokesperson Thomas Gilliland told the newspaper.

The 22 dogs, which were of different breeds, were quickly taken to the Houston Humane Society for medical care and shelter.

“The stench of decay inside the house was described as unbearable by law enforcement,” the Houston Humane Society said in an Instagram post. “The home was in a state of disrepair.”

Some of the pups were malnourished, Gilliland said. It took time to remove them “because of the ammonia and dog feces because the dogs weren’t let out,” he added.

“It was a bad situation.”

Photos released by the Humane Society showed the gross conditions of the home.

“Medical staff reported that flea infestations plagued the pups, bore old wounds, suffered from overgrown nails, and endured bacterial skin infections,” the organization said.

“These poor dogs’ lives have been turned upside down and face a challenging road to recovery.”