Higganum Man Charged With 20 Counts Of Animal Cruelty: Reports

HIGGANUM, CT — A Higganum man is facing 20 charges of animal cruelty, according to WTNH News-8. Deane Moore, 32, hired a sitter to watch his 11 German shepherds, four of which lived indoors and the rest in an outdoor pen.

The sitter told police that while Moore was on vacation, two of the dogs gave birth to puppy litters. The dogs were kept in an outdoor pen that the sitter didn't have access to.

The pen area was cold and wet, which can be dangerous for newborn puppies. Two of the puppies in the outdoor kennel died and one was injured, WTNH News-8 reported.

Once the remaining puppies from one litter were placed in a foster home, officials realized that nearly all of them were sick.

The sitter said she was shocked by the dogs' living conditions, according to WFSB 3-TV. An arrest warrant stated that the dogs seemed "extremely stressed."

Moore's bond was set at $20,000.