Owner to face charges after dogs found in squalor

FITCHBURG, Mass. (WHDH) -- A dog owner is set to face animal cruelty charges after police say four of his dogs were found living in deplorable conditions.

The four pit bull-like dogs were found in the basement of a building. Police say the dogs were caged and living in filth.

Authorities say the smell and the barking from the building caught the attention of a utility worker who was doing a job in the area. Authorities say the worker called police.

When officers arrived, they were forced to break in. Investigators say they found weeks of feces and urine piled up in the dogs’ cages.

"They all showed up in little suits and stuff and went downstairs and I guess it was pretty messy down there," said Rodney Morley, owns business next door. "The guy who owns the place is a really nice gentleman. And I've never even heard dogs over there, I've been here 20 years. Had no idea there was dogs in there."

Authorities say it was an illegal kennel operation.

“Our officers went into that building and they found four caged dogs that appeared to be in different stages of abuse. The dogs apparently had been there for a long. There was little or no ventilation in the building -- it was 90 degrees in there. There was concern about the air quality in the building and whether the dogs were fed or watered for some period of time,” said Dep. Chief Philip Kearns, Fitchburg Police Department.

Police say they have located the dogs’ owner and he will likely face animal cruelty charges.

The dogs were brought to a local animal shelter and were said to be doing much better.