NEW YORK - Police arrested three people in Medford, N.Y., on charges that they mistreated 50 dogs by raising them in what authorities called "deplorable" conditions.
Authorities said that when the trio was arrested at a Medford home this week, the dogs' water dishes were empty and the house was filled with trash and feces, Newsday reported Thursday.
In addition to the animal cruelty charges, 25-year-old Kristin Beauchesne was accused of stealing one of the canines.
For her part, 45-year-old Karen Schleich has been charged with both animal cruelty and possession of stolen property for housing the allegedly stolen animal.
The third suspect, 44-year-old David Bernacchi, is facing animal cruelty charges.
Police were led to the Suffolk County, N.Y., home after the owners of the missing animal found their pet up for sale on an Internet Web site.
Newsday said that investigators went to the home and found the missing animal there, along with 49 other dogs, all of whom were reportedly in poor physical shape.
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