Connecticut police have arrested a woman after officers allegedly discovered five children living in filth and eating dog food off the floor, as reported by FOX 61.

WVIT has noted that police arrived at Chloe Edwards’ Middletown apartment following a call about an air conditioner fire that was allegedly caused by a cigarette thrown from a third-floor window. While interviewing Edwards, 27, officers described being “taken aback” by the smell coming from her residence.

Investigators found five children were living in the balmy apartment. Officers say the carpet was stained with urine, food, feces, and cockroach carcasses, and that the unit was inundated with flies. They also located several broken mattresses on the floor covered with bodily fluids, according to police.

While waiting for Department of Children and Families (DCF) officials to arrive, officers said they witnessed a child eating dog food off the floor, complaining of hunger. The refrigerator contained two jars of sauce, a can of pasta, and two small jars of baby food, police allege.

Fire officials said the rear exit of the apartment was blocked by 3-4 feet of trash, an allegation that health department officials, who were also on the scene, have confirmed.

Authorities said Edwards is the mother to four of the five children. The fifth child was reported missing by her mother on August 4. DCF ultimately took the children into protective custody. Health officials also deemed her apartment uninhabitable.

The Middletown mother is facing five counts of risk of injury. Her bond has been set at $10,000.

[Featured Image: Middletown Police]