BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) – A man accused of abusing his 32 dogs is fighting a state motion to keep the animals from him. Larry Mason, 52, formerly of Bridgewater, N.H., was in court Thursday after pleading innocent to two misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals in August.

Deputy State’s Attorney Gabrielle J. Gautieri has asked the court to require Mason to forfeit his right to the dogs.

Mason, who was traveling through Bennington in August, was found to have 32 German Shepherds in a bus. Police and animal control officers said the animals were malnourished and covered in feces and urine. Animal control officer Jennifer Billert testified that urine spilled from the bus as it was towed away.