A Centre County family was left homeless after a fire tore through their mobile home last week.

The family is now staying elsewhere, but they left six dogs behind living outside in the cold.

Officials from across the state visited the Patton Township property on Thursday. They say that the dogs are generally in good health and that there aren’t any laws being broken. But, some animal activists say they are shocked and saddened that animals can legally live in poor conditions.

Witnesses say the six dogs in question were living in metal cages, without shelter or food. They say the cages were filled with feces and that the dogs were living outdoors in single digit temperatures.

State Representative Scott Conklin says that there are few updated laws pertaining to animal abuse. He says because of this issue in Patton Township, he is meeting with his staff and with people in Harrisburg to update these laws.

Conklin says he hopes to create stricter laws when it comes to animal abuse and he wants to give the county the power to hire animal control officers.

Officials say that these dogs are living in better conditions as of Friday. They say they do have a tarp over their cage and they have straw in the pens.