Charges have been filed against a man accused of leaving two huskies in "deplorable conditions" in Niles.

Niles Municipal Court employees tell 21 News a criminal animal cruelty charge was filed against 52-year-old Jeffrey Cathcart stemming from two huskies found living in "deplorable conditions" at a home on the 100 block of Hartzell Avenue in February.

Court employees say Cathcart did not show up to his arraignment hearing scheduled for Monday morning, so a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Cathcart was charged after Niles Police and humane officers were called to the Hartzell Avenue home, where police say Cathcart was supposed to be watching the dogs while their owner was serving in the U.S. Military.

Police say the arrangement was going well at first, but eventually Cathcart showed up less and less, with one neighbor telling officers he hadn't seen Cathcart in at least 11 straight days.

Police described the home as "deplorable" with strong odors of urine and feces, parts of the ceiling falling through and trash scattered about the floor.

Healthy Hearts & Paws Project President and CEO Jason Cooke said this house "set the record" for the amount of feces piled up in one house to the point where a shovel was needed to move it from one room to another.

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