A Belle Vernon man and woman are facing animal cruelty charges after a dog was found dead in their backyard Tuesday, according to court papers.

Troopers said the dog had obvious signs of starvation and abuse.

Christopher Michael Foreman, 35, and Rachel Marie Bonacci, 36, allegedly left the dog locked in a cage outside their Main Street home without food or water, police said. Charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, neglect of animals and related offenses were filed Tuesday.

State police said a witness reported seeing a dog struggling to move its head Tuesday morning. The witness told troopers the dog had been locked in the cage for about a month and her repeated attempts to get investigators to check on it were unsuccessful, police said in court papers.

The witness told police there were other animals inside of the house. On Wednesday, troopers removed several animals, Tribune-Review news partner WPXI reported.

Bonacci was arraigned Wednesday. She was being held in the Fayette County Prison on $30,000 bail. A July 3 preliminary hearing is set.

Foreman was awaiting arraignment. Neither suspect had an attorney listed in online court records.

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