A Marshfield man faces criminal charges after he abandoned five dogs, including puppies, in an apartment without food, water or care for at least 12 days, according to police reports.

Zachary J. Koranda, 20, was arrested after police found an adult pit bull and four puppies -- including two newborns -- living in the feces-strewn apartment, during a welfare check at Parkwood Apartments, 783 W. 17th St.

Police requested felony charges that included eight counts each for mistreating animals, failure to provide food and water to a confined animal and abandoning animals.

"I really couldn't believe someone would do that, and not to have an explanation for not leaving them food or water," said Dennis Boucher, the apartment manager. "Just seeing them all skin and bones wasn't right."

The dogs were taken to Castlerock Veterinary Hospital, 1214 S. Oak Ave., where four of the five were showing signs of improvement and the other appeared to be on its way to recovery, according to Lorrie Krokstrom, staff services supervisor for the Marshfield Police Department.

Among the dogs was a black pit bull, two puppies and two dogs that appeared to be nine months to 1 year old, police records show.

Three lizards also were in the apartment, including one that was dead.

The dogs were malnourished, and their backbones and ribs were visible. According to the request for charges, a veterinarian said the two older puppies had gone at least a month without food.

Koranda told officers that he thought a roommate was taking care of the dogs while he stayed at his girlfriend's out-of-town home, Krokstrom said. No roommate is listed on the apartment lease, Krokstrom said.

He also told officers there were 11 animals in the apartment, but only eight were found. It's unclear what happened to the other three, Krokstrom said.

Police had problems with Koranda letting his dogs run loose late last year, but Krokstrom said they were not malnourished at the time, according to reports.

Boucher said no tenants reported barking or any other issues during the last month. There is a one-dog limit at the apartment complex, Boucher said.

Boucher, who helped create Marshfield's new dog park, was appalled at what he found when he let officers into the apartment.

He might seek charges for criminal damage to property because "the apartment was completely trashed," and will cost more than $2,500 to repair. Koranda was evicted immediately.

Koranda was released but was supposed to meet with investigators to discuss the future of the dogs, Krokstrom said.

The dogs could be signed over to the police department because of the situation, which would allow the dogs' health to be closely monitored during recovery. If Koranda wants to keep the dogs, police could retain them until Koranda sees a judge in Wood County Court.

Update 1/20/10:  After allegedly leaving five dogs starving in an apartment, a Marshfield man has surrendered the animals to police.

Koranda reached an agreement with investigators to give up ownership of the pit bulls, including four puppies of varying ages.

The dogs will be available for adoption once they recover and complete any necessary veterinary treatment, said Lorrie Krokstrom, staff services manager for the police department.

The two newborn puppies are doing very well, Krokstrom said, and will be fostered by employees of Castlerock Veterinary Hospital, 1214 S. Oak Ave., until they are healthy enough for adoption, Krokstrom said.

The mother, a black and while pit bull, is continuing to gain weight, and a 9-month-old puppy is doing well, she said. The other puppy is alive, but hasn't recovered as quickly.

The Wood County District Attorney's office had not filed charges against Koranda.

The department already has received two requests to adopt the animals.

The two leopard geckos also recovered from Koranda's apartment were donated to the Animal House Pet Shop, 217 W. 14th St.

Krokstrom said the department does not budget for multi-animal hospital bills often associated with cruelty cases, but a person has contacted the police and offered to cover the animals' vet costs. Otherwise, the department would seek restitution from Koranda, she said.  "It's on occasion that it's just one animal that needs medical care," she said. "This is a little unusual that you have this many animals."

Krokstrom described the case as a "nine out of 10," in severity regarding animal cruelty cases in Marshfield.

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