Metro

A Bedford County couple face charges related to the neglect of several animals, including dogs and cats.

The animal cruelty investigation conducted by state police included information about dogs being eaten by other dogs in a farmhouse, the affidavit of probable cause states.

William Robert Lewis and Alissa Joe Lewis, both 44, each face a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals, along with 20 misdemeanor charges of neglect of animals – vet care, five summary charges of failure to provide shelter/protection and nine summary counts of failing to license the dogs.

Police were dispatched April 2 at a home on the 100 block of Dauphin Road in Everett to check on the welfare of animals at that location.

When officers arrived on scene, they found no one at the property, court documents state.

Police did find three dogs tied outside with “dilapidated looking dog boxes” in the yard near a trailer. South of the trailer, police found a camper with what sounded like several dogs inside. South of the camper, police found an old farmhouse through a patch of woods.

Tied outside of that residence were two dogs, chained to trees and the nearby dog houses. The dogs appeared thin, with the shepherd mix being “thin so that you could see his ribs showing.”

Inside the farmhouse, there appeared to be at least two dogs, police reported, noting that when an officer peered through the front door glass, he saw what “appeared to be abhorrent living conditions for those dogs. There appeared to be dog excrement all over the floor.”

In the yard, police also found nearly a dozen cats, along with a rooster, chicken and a duck. The duck did not have any water in its swimming pool and appeared to have no access to water, police reported.

Dog and cat food were found in big metal cans, the report states.

While police were on scene, William and Alissa Lewis arrived and stated that it was their property and all of the animals were theirs, except for the ones in the farmhouse and a little dog tied outside of the farmhouse.

When asked about the report of dogs eating dogs, Alissa told police the three dogs in the house had been there since July 2024. She was not sure whether the dogs had died of natural causes and been eaten by the other dogs or if the dogs got in a fight and were killed and eaten by the other dogs.

She also said the farmhouse had not been cleaned up since the dogs were put in there in July 2024 and that the dogs have not been out of the farmhouse since July 2024, police stated.

Alissa said the animals in the farmhouse and the little dog belonged to her deceased mother and William’s sister, who moved away and left the dogs behind.

One 14-year-old dog had a tumor on its chest, Alissa said, stating she didn’t take it to the vet due to costs and the dog’s age.

The couple voluntarily gave up three dogs on

April 2, the report states.

On April 4, police received a search warrant to search and seize the other animals at the residence.

Nine cats were seized and given into the custody of Moms Pets Cat Rescue, where they would receive vaccinations and be spayed and neutered before being put up for adoption.

Nine dogs were also seized that day and given to multiple agencies. Several of the dogs tested positive for Lyme disease, hook worms and whip worms, among other illnesses, the report states.

According to court documents, the couple are awaiting arraignment on the charges.