LEE COUNTY, Fla. - Robert Tracey's plea concludes years of investigation into his home, described by animal control officers as the worst case of animal hoarding they've ever seen.

"As you made your way closer to the residence, you'd have to have assistance with breathing with filters, in order to breath," said Animal control officer Adam Leath.

Officers removed dozens of dogs from his Fort Myers home, so sickly some had to be put to sleep.

OFFICERS REMOVED DOZENS OF DOGS FROM HIS FORT MYERS HOUSE - SOME SO SICKLY THEY HAD TO BE PUT TO SLEEP.

"It's the most horrific looking house I've ever been in. Feces over every square inch of the home, up the walls," said Ria Brown.

Tracey talked only talked to WINK days before his guilty plea and told us he was just trying to help the animals.

" I figured it was more important to take care of the dogs than to do a lot of housekeeping," said Tracey.

Now he won't be able to come in contact with any pets for four years as part of his probation. In our interview last week, he said he's ready to adopt as soon as he can.

"Sure there's nothing wrong with owning dogs again,' he said.

Tracey also agreed to mental health supervision. Prosecutors hope the treatment will help teach him how to be a responsible pet owner in the future.