A 46-year-old man from Pöls-Oberkurzheim in Upper Styria had 15 dogs taken away from him due to animal cruelty, according to the regional police department on Monday. Authorities became aware of the case after several of the man’s dogs had escaped. During an inspection of the property, officers from the district authority of Murtal and local police discovered shocking conditions for the animals. A husky puppy was found so badly injured that it had to be euthanized.

The man had several dogs run away, three of which remain unaccounted for. According to police, the inspection on Sunday morning revealed “catastrophic conditions” on the man’s property. Among other things, a severely injured husky puppy was found in a doghouse.

A veterinary officer from the Murtal district authority was called in. In the basement of the house, officials found extreme hygiene issues, and the decomposing body of a young husky was discovered in a broken freezer. With the help of police dog handlers, the remaining dogs were captured and taken to the Murtal animal shelter.

Three Dogs Still Missing

The three runaway dogs have not yet been caught and are believed to still be in the vicinity of the town. The local community has been informed.

Criminal and administrative proceedings are being initiated against the dog owner on suspicion of animal cruelty. He is accused of having kept around 20 dogs in torturous conditions over the past several months. The man will be reported to the Leoben public prosecutor’s office.