A Florida man is facing multiple felony charges after dead dogs were allegedly discovered in his backyard.
Deputies with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the home of Salomon Cruz-Perez, 42, on the evening of March 16 in response to a domestic incident.
Sheriff Richard Del Toro said at a press conference on Monday that the deputies arrived on the scene but no one would answer the door. The deputies then heard a person in the backyard, and when they walked around the house, discovered Cruz-Perez as well as the two dead dogs, which were hanging from a tree in his yard, Del Toro alleged.
“The dogs, a male and a female, were found suspended by their necks from a tree, bound with various ropes and chains,” the SLCSO said in a statement.
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Cruz-Perez allegedly admitted to owning the dogs and told the deputies that they were likely hanging from the tree because they had tied themselves up, according to Del Toro.
Detectives obtained a search warrant a few hours later and began their investigation in the early morning hours of March 17, according to the SLCSO. After working through the night, detectives determined that the animals “were bound around their necks with coaxial cable, paracord, tie-down straps, and chains.”
During the investigation, detectives also learned that Cruz-Perez attempted to have the dogs euthanized just a few weeks prior, Del Toro alleged.
Once they had completed their search and examination of the scene, detectives contacted the St. Lucie County Animal Control to collect the dogs. Cruz-Perez was arrested and charged with two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty resulting in death.
Cruz-Perez made his first appearance on Monday, according to court records obtained by PEOPLE, and is currently being held on a $10,000 bond. He does not have legal representation at this time.
A spokesperson for the SLCSO tells PEOPLE that the investigation is ongoing.
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