Accusations of dog abuse have gotten strong reactions from thousands of Facebook users, after the case was posted on the page of the man who says he discovered the dead dogs on his rental property in the town of Welch.

Luke McDugel made the post, along with a picture he took showing what appear to be the bodies of several dogs.

Some commenters criticized the Craig County Sheriff's Office for not doing enough to investigate the case.

But Sheriff Jimmie Sooter says they're taking the case very seriously, pointing out the case has been exaggerated to some extent.

He said a total of four dogs died.

“The statement was on Facebook that there were 13 dogs and a couple of horses and more bones lying around, which is completely false,” Sooter said.

He was quick to add that even four dead dogs is terrible.

“Y’know any animal abuse case is a bad deal,” he said.

He said the Sheriff’s Office has completed its investigation and given all its paperwork to the District Attorney’s office, which will decide whether or not to file charges against the renters.

The renters have been quoted as saying that they didn’t abuse the dogs, that they believe someone else poisoned the animals.