The Boulder Creek dog breeder taken into custody on Thursday on charges of abusing dozens of dogs on his rural Santa Cruz Mountains property could face imprisonment for the alleged crimes.

Robert Brunette, aged 45, was detained by Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police after an undisclosed hint helped officials find him early on Thursday and was later arrested by Santa Cruz County Animal Services officers on suspicion of mistreating animals and taken to Santa Cruz County Jail, charged with eight counts of felony animal abuse and five misdemeanor counts, according to county Animal Services Field Director Todd Stosuy, cited by the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Furthermore, the District Attorney’s Office is still assessing the case and may add other charges.

Los Gatos police Sgt. Randy Rimple declared that his department had received the anonymous tip concerning Brunette’s hideaway place behind the Los Gatos High School through the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials rescued 38 starving and mistreated dogs and puppies at Brunette’s property on Saturday. Among the neglected animals authorities found Cane Corsos, Rottweilers and Labradors. Brunette had been selling the animals as thoroughbreds in the San Jose and San Francisco region. In addition to this, officials also discovered six skulls, a severed dog head hanging from a tree, the body of a dog on the roof of his decrepit house, plus severed dog paws spread all over his almost 5-acre property on the 100 block of Hartman Creek Road. On Tuesday, authorities rescued two more dogs from the estate and at least eight more are still believed to be there.

Robert Brunette was initially put under observation on Friday when a neighbor informed the Animal Services authorities that he kept on hearing the cries of the more than 45 starving animals on the Santa Cruz Mountains property. Brunette did not permit the Animal Services authorities to enter his property. Nonetheless, they came back on Saturday afternoon with a search warrant and picked up as many dogs and puppies as they were able to.

Brunette is being held on $100,000 bail and is due to be prosecuted next week. He may be sentenced to state prison if he is found guilty, since several crimes he was accused of are felonies.