CHALMETTE, La., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- A Louisiana man had 32 dead puppies stored in his refrigerator and freezer, police in St. Bernard Parish say.
Juan Toledo, 52, of Arabi was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals Tuesday, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported. Investigators found 29 puppies and three grown dogs.
"It appears that these dogs died of neglect," Col. John Doran of the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office. "He didn't really have a good explanation for it. He wasn't really rational about it."
Doran said there were no living animals in the home. He said some of the dead puppies appeared to be as young as a week old.
Investigators described Toledo's house as filthy and insect-ridden.
At the time of his arrest, Toledo was free on $50,000 bail after being charged with beating his girlfriend. The woman, who broke up with him after the alleged assault, discovered the dead dogs Tuesday when she went to the house to retrieve some of her possessions.
