COPENHAGEN (AP) - Danish police say they found 30 dead dogs, including 25 puppies, in a freezer while investigating complaints of loud barking.

Police spokesman Soeren Bach says they discovered the dogs on Monday at a 66-year-old man's house after he had refused to pay fines for disturbing the peace and ignored an April court order banning him from keeping dogs on his property in Hjoerring, northern Denmark.

Mr Bach said on Tuesday that the man, who was not named, was not at home at the time. Officers had a warrant to seize any dogs on the premises. They found four live dogs and a snake.

He said the dead dogs were found during a "routine" search of the house. It was unclear how the animals had died.