The owners of a dog boarding facility in upstate New York have been arrested after authorities say 21 dogs died while in their care over the weekend.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday that Robert Palulis and Anastasia Palulis face 22 misdemeanor counts, including overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals, along with failing to provide proper sustenance.
The charges stem from their arrest at Anastasia’s Acres Dog Boarding in Argyle, New York. According to Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy, deputies were called to the property on Sunday after receiving reports of multiple deceased dogs.
“Upon investigation it was determined that 21 dogs in total were found deceased and one was taken to an emergency animal clinic for care,” the sheriff’s office said in an initial release.
Officials confirmed that a veterinarian assisted investigators at the scene, alongside Argyle Animal Control Officers, while detectives worked to determine the cause of the deaths.
The department later concluded that the animals had been deprived of “adequate water and ventilation.”
Robert, 48, and Anastasia, 38, were released following their arrest and are scheduled to appear in municipal court at a later date.
PEOPLE reached out to the boarding facility for comment but did not receive a response. As of Tuesday afternoon, the facility’s website was no longer active.
