A Butler County man is facing animal cruelty charges after police discovered two dead German Shepherds, which led to 50 animals being removed from his home Saturday, state police said.

According to a criminal complaint, a K-9 Deputy stopped at the General Butler Vagabonds to let their K-9 out to urinate.

State police said that the K-9 immediately led the deputy outside of the parking lot area where two black garbage bags were discovered.

The criminal complaint states that the deputy summoned the Butler Township Police Department after he discovered two dead German Shepherds, approximately 3-5 years of age, in the bags.

According to state police, the dogs both had collars on and were chipped, identifying one of their owners as Paul Frederick, 53.

The criminal complaint states that nom external trauma or wounds were observed on the dogs, but they were limp and rigor mortis had dissipated.

State police said that the dogs had matted fur, with each of their collars heavily matted with built up fur.

According to the criminal complaint, the dogs' eyes were "heavily" sunken into their skulls and that they appeared underweight.

State police said Frederick arrived on scene and was then questioned by police, originally claiming he did not know anything about the dogs and that he was not missing any.

The criminal complaint states that, after being told the dogs were registered to him, he told officers, "I had one that passed away", saying his son was supposed to bury it in that area.

According to state police, Frederick would not answer questions about any additional dogs and said he did not know how the dogs died.

The criminal complaint states that state police arrived at Frederick's home on the 100 block of Double Road in Connoquenessing Township after discovering that Frederick owned three additional dogs.

State police said that Frederick led them into the basement of the home where three dogs were discovered in crates and no additional animals were observed on the property at the time.

According to the criminal complaint, state police went back to the General Butler Vagabonds property and discovered the German Shepherds had been buried in a shallow grave nearby where they were originally discovered.

State police said that the dogs were exhumed and transported to the ANNA Shelter in Erie for autopsies due to the circumstances of their deaths.

The criminal complaint states that the results came in on Saturday and determined the cause of deaths to be starvation and that both dogs had no muscle mass, no fluids, had no physical or spinal injuries and were approximately 30 pounds underweight.

According to state police, a search warrant was executed on Frederick's home.

According to a press release, 50 animals were discovered on the property, including dogs, cats, pigs, goats and ducks.

The criminal complaint states that Frederick became increasingly agitated when told that all animals were being removed from the property and told state police that the animals were not leaving his home.

State police said they instructed Frederick to leave the residence, in which Frederick did not comply.

According to the criminal complaint, troopers attempted to physically remove Frederick from the home, but Frederick physically resisted and had to be taken to the floor, where he continued to struggle with troopers.

The press release states that Frederick is being charged with aggravated cruelty to animals as well as obstructing administration of law and resisting arrest.

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