CAMPBELL — A Campbell man will face charges of animal cruelty next week in Campbell Municipal Court after 91 animals were removed from a garage on his property in early March.

Pavlo Santiago, 61, 373 Whipple Ave., faces charges of cruelty to companion animals, a second-degree misdemeanor, after Campbell policed conducted an investigation at his property from Feb. 27 to March 1. On March 28, Santiago pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on $250 bond. His case was set for pre-trial at 11 a.m. Friday.

On Feb. 27, Campbell police were told by a neighbor that Santiago had multiple starving animals locked in a feces-filled garage on his property, according to a police report. Officers investigated the property over the following three days.

There was no handle to open the garage door, and a side door on the building was secured with a padlock. The windows of the garage were difficult to see through as they were covered with dust. On March 1, Santiago opened the side door for Campbell police and members of three rescue units.

Officers found a dog living in poor conditions, according to the report. The area that the dog was in was filled with trash, including a washing machine, a dryer, a metal animal cage standing upright, a kitchen table and chairs, and a heavily deteriorated couch. Officers also noted cobwebs hanging from the rafters that they estimated to be seven feet long and a dark mix of feces and urine covering the floor.

According to the report, there was no space in the room for the dog to walk unimpeded and no possibility for fresh air or sunlight. Officers did not find food or fresh water. Upon removal, the dog, a male pit mix, weighted approximately 40-45 pounds and had bloodshot eyes and a hoarse cough. It was taken to a local kennel.

Along with the dog, the garage contained a 24-square foot chicken coop that housed an estimated 20 chickens and roosters. The entire coop was covered with a thick coat of dust, according to the report. Officers stated that the roosts and nesting boxes were filthy and had no straw, heat lamps, clean feeders or waterers. The report states that the coop did have a large outdoor area that would have provided more space for the chickens, but it was blocked by a metal gate. There was food available for the chickens, but no fresh water. Of the 17 birds, 14 were listed as underweight.

Another enclosure on Santiago’s property contained 64 pigeons and four eggs. Officers said the floor of the 24-square foot pigeon coop was coated with feces, some areas as tall as 12 inches. Everything in the coop, including containers for food and water, were covered in feces and feathers.

In the report, officers stated that according to common spacing regulations, a coop the size of the one on Santiago’s property should have housed no more than four birds. Santiago had 64 pigeons living in the coop. When officers began the removal of the animals on March 1, Santiago admitted that he had just purchased six pigeons earlier that day.

There were also six rabbits living in an enclosure on the property. None of the rabbits had access to food or water. There also was no straw or any other method of protection from the weather provided.

The report states that Santiago was cooperative when officers arrived and that he helped with the removal of the animals.

mcole@tribtoday.com