A Salem couple that stored dead poodle puppies in their freezer was set to be sentenced for criminal mistreatment and animal neglect Monday.

Salem Police photo

Some of the poodles confiscated from the house.

Last fall detectives serving a search warrant for a child pornography investigation found the family living in filth with 24 poodles. Eight more poodles, all of them dead puppies, were found in plastic bags in the freezer, Salem Police Lt. Jim Anglemier said.

Kevin and Sarah Deal lived in the home on Vernon Loop NE with their two children, ages 15 and 16, and two other juveniles, ages 9 and 17. The Deals told detectives the puppies were stored there until one of the older children could bury them in the backyard.

They pleaded guilty to the mistreatment and beglect charges and were scheduled to be sentenced Monday.

Background:

Two dozen poodles were found running loose or in cages. Some of the dogs were near death. There was no water or food out for the dogs. Dog excrement was also found caked on the floor, beds, furnishings and clothes, police said.

“The feces odor was so strong, some of the detectives needed to wear breathing respirators,” Anglemier said.

Officials with the Willamette Humane Society and Marion County Dog Control took the surviving poodles.

The four children were taken into protective custody. A separate investigation for child pornography investigation continued for Kevin Deal.