Two sisters have been charged after police said four dead dogs and four others that were neglected were found in a Middlesex Township home.

Susan L. Batz, 68, and Robin L. Batz, 63, were arraigned Thursday morning as co-defendants in a case involving 26 charges, including four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

The sisters were released on a $30,000 unsecured bond with the condition that they may not keep animals until the case is resolved.

According to charging documents, Middlesex Township Police were alerted Sunday by neighbors who claimed the sisters were keeping their dogs in poor living conditions.

Police conducted a welfare check at the residence. By peeking in the windows, it was determined the dogs weren't in immediate danger. The investigating officer visited the home again Monday morning to see if conditions had changed.

According to police, it appeared the owners had not returned to the home to care for the animals.

Police said they executed a search warrant Monday afternoon on the Browns Hill Road home, where they found four living dogs, two terriers and two mastiffs, in poor conditions.

The mastiffs were housed in a fenced-in area in the garage.

“The two mastiffs had matted fur with large amounts of feces stuck to their bodies,” said the investigating officer in the affidavit. “The metal door handle to the cage was rusted shut and had to be pried open.”

The two terriers were found upstairs in the home, one roaming freely and the other was left in a cage. Police said they did not see food or water available to any of the dogs.

“After we finished checking the welfare of the dogs, I applied for another search warrant to seize the dogs out of the home for their safety,” police said.

Adam Hartwig, Middlesex Township manager, said he was at the scene during the search, and he saw that all four of the living dogs were removed safely from the home.

“It's a sad case,” he said. “All four dogs are at Butler County Humane Society.”

Police said as they further searched the home, they found the carcasses of four dogs. Three were found at the top of the stairs of the house's third-level, and the fourth was found in a third-floor bedroom.

“Both Susan and Robin Batz stated that they owned the dogs,” police said.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled May 12 before District Judge Sue Haggerty.