By Lauren Park

A Daytona Beach man was arrested August 4 on charges of child neglect and animal cruelty. Police say Lennis Stephens, 31, was in possession of nine dogs being trained for fighting, and the home he had been sharing with his daughter was in "deplorable conditions."

Lt. Jeff Hoffman with Daytona Beach Police said a patrol unit first visited Stephens' home August 1 for a dog bite complaint. That's when they found eight dogs in the backyard that were so severely underweight, they were immediately taken into custody.

"The dogs were seized because they were malnourished, and there was evidence that they were being trained for fighting," Hoffman said. "The vet at the Volusia County Emergency Animal Hospital confirmed that."

Officers also learned Stephens' 5-year-old daughter had recently moved out to live with a cousin, Hoffman said. The daughter said she had left her father's house because she felt the conditions were too dirty to live in.

Hoffman said officers obtained a search warrant and returned to the house the following day. They not only found a ninth dog, but evidence behind Stephens' daughter's claims.

The police report also noted small bags of a white powder found inside the house.

"They also found trace amounts of what appeared to be cocaine," Hoffman said. Police have not yet been able to proceed with drug charges because the initial search warrant was for dog fighting evidence.

Stephens' daughter is still living with her relative, Hoffman said, and the Department of Children and Families is conducting an investigation.