ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Multiple dogs were found “intentionally harmed” and killed at an Albany home, Albany Police (APD) Chief Michael Persley said Monday, March 23.

Chief Persley said officers responded to the home in the 400 block of South Monroe Street at about 5:20 p.m. on Friday after a neighbor called the police. When they arrived, Persley said officers found multiple dead dogs on the property.

According to the incident report, a total of four deceased dogs were found by officials.

A resident of the home, 71-year-old Theodus Lovest, was arrested, Persley said. Lovest was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.

According to an incident report from APD, this comes after Lovest got into a verbal altercation with his landlord over Lovest’s failure to pay rent.

During the altercation, the landlord’s son’s dog began to bark, according to police.

A witness told police that she saw Lovest and a woman known only as “New York” twisting the dog’s neck “like they were trying to kill it” at about 3 a.m. Friday.

Responding officers reportedly saw the dog deceased on the south side of the house along with three other deceased dogs. APD said it looked like the three other dogs were decomposing and had been dead for some time.

Lovest reportedly told police that he entered the home through a window on Thursday night. A witness reported that Lovest broke a window to gain access to the home.

Lovest was taken into custody without incident, APD said. Officials said they did not find weapons or contraband in the home following Lovest’s arrest. He was taken to the Dougherty County Jail.

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