A Neptune City couple is facing a total of 16 counts of animal cruelty after their eight sick dogs were found caged outside in 20 degree temperatures, shivering and covered in their own excrement, authorities allege.

Xavier Reed, 29, and Kaniesha Bacon, 30, of the Brighton Arms apartments, are facing eight counts each for failing to provide care, water, shelter and veterinary treatment to the dogs, according to Ross Licitra, executive director of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, SPCA.

The SPCA officers rescued the puppies and dogs from their cages early Saturday after someone called 911 to report excessive barking at the apartment complex on West Sylvania Avenue.

The dogs were crammed in small crates on a porch, their only shelter a plastic tarp, the SPCA said. They were covered in urine and feces, shivering from the cold, and had no water or food, the agency said.

“It’s inconceivable,” Licitra said of the conditions.

Veterinarians found the dogs had intestinal parasites, skin sores, ear and skin infections, dirty coats and overgrown nails, the SPCA said. Additionally, one of the dogs had old scars and wounds that could have been the result of being used as a “bait-dog” in dog fighting, officials said.

One of the dogs that was rescued from outside a Neptune City apartment complex on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020.

The dogs are being cared for at the Monmouth County SPCA shelter until court proceedings against the owners are complete, Licitra said. A fundraiser to help pay for their care has raised over $9,600 by Thursday.

Licitra said the animal cruelty charges are disorderly persons offenses, which means they will be handled in municipal court and aren’t indictable crimes. To rise to the level of an indictable cruelty charge, Licitra said a person must cause serious injury or death of an animal, or have a previous animal cruelty conviction on their record.

Neither Reed or Bacon have any previous animal cruelty convictions, he said. Both were interviewed on the scene Saturday, he said, and now have a lawyer.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips