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Posted: Monday, December 11th, 2006 5:29 AM HST

Man charged with neglecting 20 dogs

By Associated Press

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) _ The Kauai Humane Society has cited a 47-year-old Anahola man for allegedly abandoning his 20 dogs without food and water for at least a week. Steve A. Cummings was charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty and another 20 counts of animal desertion. He is scheduled to be arraigned January 9th. Humane Society officials last week followed up on a complaint and discovered three dogs dead and another 17 suffering from dehydration and starvation. They were caged or chained up on the property. Becky Rhoades, the Humane Society's executive director, called it a ``nightmare.'' The dogs will be cared for by the humane society until at least the arraignment. At that time, Cummings will have the option of paying for their care until the trial or turning them over for adoption. The dogs are hunting-type Airedale mixed breeds, with a couple of hound and pit bull mixes. (Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved)