NORWICH— The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office reported on Monday an arrest related to the death of two dogs in Norwich.

Deputies charged James A. Macduff Jr., 30, with two counts of aggravated animal cruelty, a felony, the report said.

They also charged him with two counts of failure to provide proper food and drink to an impounded animal and two counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals and failure to provide proper nourishment, both misdemeanors, the report said.

Macduff, of New Berlin, was arrested at a property he owns at Horstman Trailer Court in Norwich, said Sgt. Chad O’Hara of the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office reported Macduff allegedly left two dogs locked in cages with no food or water in a building at the Norwich property for over a month, and as a result, both dogs died. The dogs belonged to Macduff, O’Hara said.

Law enforcement estimated the dogs were left in the cages for over a month based on the initial call made by local residents, statements made by neighbors and Macduff himself, O’Hara said.

Neighbors reported a foul smell and reported it to law enforcement, who then arrived at the residence and found two decaying corpses that were still locked inside of their cages, police said.

Macduff was arrested and released on an appearance ticket, the report said. Macduff will appear in the Town of Norwich court on a later date.

In late June, a separate animal cruelty incident occurred in Norwich. At the time, Norwich Police Chief Reuben J. Roach said cases like this were rare.

O’Hara also said deputies rarely see animal cruelty cases, but when they do, they are taken seriously. O’Hara recognized the Town of Norwich’s dog control officer for his efforts in the case.

“It's a very high profile case, just because of the love of animals from the community,” O’Hara said. “So we take them very seriously and investigate them to the best of our ability.”