PROSPECT — State police responding to an animal welfare check last month discovered six dogs and three cats in an unoccupied trailer home with floors covered in feces.

The animals — for at least two days — had no food, police said. The dogs had no water either.

The home at a trailer court on David Street in Prospect also had no heat. The inside temperature was only several degrees above freezing.

A subsequent examination, authorities said, determined the dogs had parasite infection.

On Tuesday, police charged the owner, Sona M. Murphy, 41, of Worthington, Armstrong County with nine counts of cruelty to animals and six counts each of neglect of animals and failing to license the dogs.

Trooper Philip Treadway said he began his investigation Jan. 13 after a neighbor contacted police and advised them of his concern for the dogs' well-being at the trailer next door.

This is an excerpt — read the full story in Friday's Butler Eagle or subscribe to butlereagle.com