Man charged after kittens found in freezer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A Tampa Bay area man faces charges after authorities say a visitor found four kittens — one of which was dead — in his freezer.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office reports that 38-year-old Rodney Blanchard asked a friend to get a beer out of his freezer Sunday. Instead of beer, the friend said she found kittens in individual sandwich bags. When the friend tried to remove the kittens, she said Blanchard made her leave. That's when she contacted authorities.

Deputies reported finding three orange and white males, which were still alive, and a dead, calico female. They were approximately six weeks old.

The surviving kittens were taken to a local animal hospital. Officials also removed an adult cat from the home.

Blanchard was charged with four counts of animal cruelty and one count of misdemeanor battery. He was being held on $8,500 bail.