JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Missing-persons detectives in hazardous-materials suits searched a Westside home full of rotting garbage to find the body of a 72-year-old retired psychiatrist who had not been seen for three days, WJXT-TV in Jacksonville reported.

Jacksonville Fire-Rescue spokesman Tom Francis said rescuers were called to the home Tuesday night by the woman's family.

The woman's Chihuahua roaming in the front yard was described as emaciated.

When firefighters forced their way inside, they found found piles of garbage 6 to 7 feet high.

Two police officers who searched the home shortly after 11 p.m. were overcome by fumes and taken to the hospital as a precaution. Francis called the odor "unbelievable; description cannot define."

An initial search of the house by police and rescuers with a K-9 search dog did not find the woman. Police and firefighters returned to the home Wednesday morning with cadaver dogs and protective equipment for a second search of the home. A body was found near the front door.

Police identified the woman as Carina DeOcampo.

Jacksonville sheriff's Sgt. Rick Hike described the conditions inside as "deplorable."

"The house is in total disarray. It appears that's the way the house always is," Hike said.

Manny Manjon, a cousin, said DeOcampo became a recluse after retiring as a psychiatrist with the Florida Department of Corrections. He said family would drop food off for her at the front door, but no one was allowed inside.

Manjon said the food he left for her on Sunday was still sitting on the hood of DeOcampo's car.

DeOcampo's family said she had heart problems and they had once called 911 for medical help, but she refused to open the door to them.

The television station was told that DeOcampo had hoarded from an early age, but it got worse when a family member died.

"Hoarding is a disorder," said Elizabeth Hammond, a professional organizer that is familiar with this particular mental illness. "It's a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder."

Hammond said it can appear from the outside that hoarders are living normal lives, but they don't let anyone inside their homes so they can hide the fact that they save everything -- even garbage.

"Coke bottles, any kind of trash -- they can't get rid of it because it reminds them of something," Hammond said.

"(She was a) very, very good person. Very helpful. Religious," Manjon said. "She helped a lot of people, but couldn't help herself."

Although no foul play was suspected, homicide detectives have taken over the case and an autopsy was to be conducted to determine the cause of death.

City code enforcement personnel have condemned the house.

DeOcampo's two dogs -- a chihuahua and a poodle mix -- were taken to Animal Care and Protective Services. They're in a kennel together, and despite being a bit scared, they appear to be in satisfactory health.

"The vet staff will be evaluating them and looking over their health," said Christine Parker, with Animal Care and Protective Services. "All of our animals get spayed or neutered before they leave."

No one knows the dogs' names.

The chihuahua is a little under weight, only weighing two pounds.

The Jacksonville sheriff's officer who found them has already expressed an interest in adopting both of them.