A Mississippi man who was once charged with cruelty to animals has been ordered to pay a humane society $1,300 in restitution.

Timothy Ballard and Stacey Purvis were charged after a neighbor called officers to their home in August, The Natchez Democrat reported.

Two dogs were found “very emaciated” and had no access to food or water, Adams County Deputy Karen Ewing said in her report. The dogs were taken to the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society for veterinary care.

A hearing in the case took place Tuesday. County prosecutor Carmen Drake said a “lack of proof” led to a plea arrangement in which the charge against Purvis was dropped and the charge against Ballard was reduced to malicious mischief.

Neither Ballard nor Purvis was home at the time of the original incident, Drake said.

Ballard pleaded no contest to the malicious mischief charge. He was fined and ordered to pay restitution to the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society for taking in the dogs.

One dog had been already been adopted out and the other was ready to be adopted, Ewing said.