DENVER -- Animal Control officers found more than a dozen pit bull puppies caged in a garage Sunday after neighbors heard incessant barking, but some of the animals had already died.

Neighbors had called Animal Control on Thursday after they grew concerned about dogs barking in a garage at 10150 East Virginia Ave.

One neighbor, Todd von Bender, was horrified by what he saw when an animal control officer opened the garage where the dogs were kept.

"I was able to get full view of the dead dogs inside," von Bender told 7News. "The mother dog was literally eating one of the dead babies."

Von Bender and others later forced the garage door open. Inside the garage were pit bull puppies in cages, a sealed bag of dog food and no water, and several dead animals.

"I think it's just terrible and I'm really sad about what happened. I mean, the poor puppies," neighbor Sarah Moore said.

Danielle Landry, who rents the home, was arrested.

Police are looking for her boyfriend, who apparently owns the dogs.

The pit bulls' owner could face animal cruelty charges.

Because of pit bulls' ferocious nature, it is illegal to own the animals in the city and county of Denver.