Katie 
Jeanette, Pennsylvania: Officers were called to a residential street on Saturday following a report that two dogs had been hit.
Officers made contact with 26-year-old Brian Brabant, the owner of the dogs who appeared to be "highly intoxicated."
According to the criminal complaint, it was a witness that initially went into the home in order to check on the dogs that discovered two children, both under the age of 6, inside of a cage.
The complaint further states that the children were found covered in feces and dirt with bug bites all over their arms and legs. The overall condition of the home was described as filthy.
Inside the home, Quanisha Knuss, Brabant's girlfriend, was contacted. She stated that the children, ages 2 and 4, belonged to her sister and that Brabant was responsible for caring for them while she was at work.
"The doors is never locked," Knuss said of the cage. She stated it was "constantly opened on both sides, and they would just go in, put the cat in there because they see the dogs go in and out every time, they are bad and they would put the cat in there and they thought, 'dogs do it, we can do it with the cats.'"
Children and Youth Services responded to the residence and saw the children's return to their mother. They are all now staying with relatives.
Knuss defended Brabant saying, "It's just a misunderstanding," and "when it comes to the kids, he's a sweetheart. He loves the kids. He doesn't put the kids in danger." She alleged that what police took as feces on the children was simply dirt.
Brabant has been charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and endangering the welfare of children. He was additionally charged with public drunkenness. His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for September 29, 2022.
The dogs, Bear and Nala, were taken for treatment. Bear is believed to have succumbed to his injuries.
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