Vancouver Police arrested three people after officers discovered five children and three dogs living inside a car packed with trash and drug paraphernalia near SE Mill Plain Blvd and NE 104th Ave in Vancouver, Wash., authorities said.

Officers responding to the area found the vehicle in hazardous condition, Vancouver Police said. “Officers found five children and three dogs living in a car filled with trash and drug paraphernalia,” the department said in a statement. Investigators described the scene as presenting immediate health and safety risks to both the children and the animals.

Police identified those arrested as Natalie Gebron, Zachariah Edwards and Corleone Lewis. The arrests followed an on-scene investigation by Vancouver Police into the conditions inside the vehicle. Specific charges were available and reported by Vancouver Police.

Vancouver Animal Control responded alongside law enforcement to assess and remove the animals from the vehicle. Staff later determined one of the dogs required euthanasia because of poor health; officers said that animal had an untreated open tumor. The other two dogs were described by Animal Control staff as extremely underweight.

Officers reported that the children showed clear signs of neglect and that there was very little food available inside the car. After emergency responders assessed the situation, the children were removed from the vehicle and placed into the custody of appropriate responders, officials said. Local reporting indicates that child welfare services were involved in follow-up care for the youngsters.

Vancouver Police said the hazardous conditions inside the vehicle — including the presence of drug paraphernalia, heavy trash and severely malnourished animals — were factors that prompted arrests at the scene. The investigation into the circumstances that led to the family living in the vehicle and any related criminal allegations is ongoing, the department said.

Authorities credited the rapid coordination between patrol officers and Animal Control for quickly addressing the welfare needs of the animals and children. Animal Control staff conducted examinations on the dogs after their removal and made the difficult decision to euthanize the animal whose condition was judged non-survivable due to the untreated tumor and overall poor health.

The discovery drew attention from local news organizations, which published initial reporting on the incident. KPTV and KATU provided early accounts of the scene, including descriptions from law enforcement about the condition of the vehicle and the state of the children and animals.

Vancouver Police said their investigation remains active and that additional details, including any formal charges, will be released as the inquiry progresses. In the meantime, the five children and the surviving animals were removed from the unsafe conditions and placed with appropriate care providers.

Officials emphasized that the arrests were made following the assessment of immediate hazards inside the vehicle and as part of an effort to ensure the safety of those involved. Further updates on the status of the investigation and any ensuing legal actions were not immediately available.

Original local reporting on the incident can be found through KPTV and KATU.