ST. LOUIS – Animal rights advocates are voicing their frustrations after a grand jury recently decided to downgrade charges against an Oklahoma couple accused in what’s been described as a "horrific case of animal abuse."

On July 11, an employee at St. Louis Cremation in Downtown West contacted police to report a man had arrived in a box truck looking to cremate four dead dogs.

The employee told police it’s not uncommon for pet owners to bring their deceased canines in for cremation, but it was peculiar seeing someone arrive with four animals at once. 

Police were informed the box truck contained several other dogs, many of whom looked to be in poor condition.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s probable cause statement, officers spoke with the truck driver, identified as Robert Peters of Noble, Oklahoma. Peters told police that he and his wife owned an animal transportation business out of their home.

Officers asked Peters if they could check the box truck, and Peters agreed. Police said they found 12 dogs in the truck, stacked atop one another in cages. The truck floor was covered in a sawdust-like powder.

According to police, many of the dogs were covered in their own feces and urine. The animals also appeared lethargic due to the high temperature in the back of the box truck.

Peters was later charged with more than a dozen counts of animal abuse. His wife, Jessica, was charged later that month.

But a grand jury opted to downgrade the felony charges to misdemeanor counts, sparking frustration in the animal care community and among animal rights advocates.

FOX 2 talked to the founder of a local shelter and an out-of-town shelter directly tied to the incident to get their reaction Tuesday.