A Centereach woman who once cared for pets is facing animal cruelty charges over her own dogs.

Officials arrested Antonia Bonanno over the weekend. Representatives of the Suffolk SPCA said they rescued two adult pit bulls from her home in late September after neighbors complained the animals were alone.

"Unopened cans of food on top of the cages ? they actually had dust on them," said Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross. "And they were lying in their own feces in urine-soaked cages. It was just absolutely horrible."

The dehydrated dogs weighed just 35 pounds each and also had overgrown toenails, said SPCA representatives.

Authorities said they tracked down Bonanno at a relative's house and offered to let her retrieve the animals. However, they said she failed to show up, leading to charges.

Bonanno previously ran an animal-sitting business. She's due in court Jan. 25.