A Pinellas County man has been arrested for animal cruelty after kittens were discovered in his freezer.

Deputies arrested 49-year-old Rodney J. Blanchard on Sunday and charged him with four-counts of animal cruelty and one-count of battery after a visitor to his home discovered four kittens inside a freezer.

A neighbor, Eve Mulder, says Blanchard asked her to get a beer out of the freezer located in the carport.

When Mulder said there were no beers in the freezer Rodney laughed and stated, “But there are kittens in the freezer,” according to an arrest affidavit.

Mulder took a closer look, saw the kittens and attempted to remove them from the freezer. Blanchard pushed her aside and told her to get out. Mulder went home and reported the finding to the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded to Blanchard's residence on 46th Avenue North to conduct a welfare check on the animals. As deputies approached the freezer they heard several kittens' meow.

After deputies discovered the four kittens inside separate sandwich bags in the freezer Rodney stated, “I didn’t know what to do with them,” according to the arrest report.

One kitten was unresponsive. The three others were alive and meowing.

Deputies gathered all four and wrapped them in a blanket to keep them warm. Deputies further observed the kittens were covered with fleas. All were cold to the touch and shaking; and one was having difficulty breathing.

Deputies say Blanchard told them the kittens had been in the freezer for about 15 minutes.

Deputies transported the kittens to the Emergency Care Center At Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialist in Largo for further care. The SPCA responded to the scene and the kittens are currently in their custody.

SPCA humane officer Jill Purl said it's one of the worst animal cruelty cases she's ever investigated.

“This is up there with one of the worst that I’ve actually seen,” she said.

An adult cat was found in the home unharmed. This cat is also in the custody of SPCA.

Two other outdoor cats were found in the vicinity of the home. They were also unharmed.