A St. Joseph man is facing a misdemeanor charge after authorities found three dog corpses in a trailer.

Leroy Ellis, 41 is charged in Buchanan County with a class-A misdemeanor of animal abuse.

According to court documents, on June 17 around 10 p.m. a Deputy with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office responded to a trailer located in the 5700 block of Southwest Lakefront Lane in reference to a deceased dog.

“Upon investigation I located three dog corpses in this trailer,” said Deputy Patrick Clark. “The inside of the trailer was covered with animal feces, urine and trash. The dogs were not checked on or provided with adequate care.”

Clark said Ellis owned four dogs which he kept in the trailer but did not live in it himself.

“Mr. Ellis was staying at his mother’s residence across the road. Mr. Ellis had been back in town since 6/15/2017 and had not checked on the dogs for three days,” Clark said.

An arraignment in the case is scheduled for July 24 at 8:30 a.m.