ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A man who cried and collapsed in his front yard when he was told five dogs in his home had their throats slashed has been arrested for the crime.

Gary John Martin told neighbors that someone broke into his house Friday, injured the dogs and wrote threats on a mirror in lipstick.

The dogs are expected to recover, but sympathetic neighbors mowed his lawn for him and brought him pasta and sausage for dinner.

Pinellas County Sheriff deputies arrested Martin on Wednesday, saying he slashed the dogs' throats himself. Martin was being held Thursday on $25,000 bail on five counts of animal cruelty.

"That guy should win the Oscar," neighbor Bill Collins said. "We stood by his side, and then found out that he did it."

Martin may have hurt the dogs in an attempt to woo his estranged wife, who always thought he loved his dogs too much, according to Martin's son.

"It's sick," said Tim Martin, 28. "But I think he was trying to get her back."

Authorities were called to Martin's home when a neighbor discovered the bloody dogs, four cocker spaniels and a miniature Doberman pinscher, inside Martin's house. Four of the dogs belong to Martin and one cocker spaniel belongs to a neighbor.

As sheriff's deputies arrived to investigate, Martin, 50, arrived home from his night shift job. He collapsed in the front yard, crying, "My babies, my babies, my babies," neighbor Joe Keough said.

Martin's wife and stepdaughter told the St. Petersburg Times they suspected him of hurting the dogs. Martin denied it, saying: "This is devastating. These dogs are my kids."

Detectives began investigating the case as a burglary, but said evidence pointed to Martin as the culprit, authorities said.

The dogs are recovering at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Largo, said Beth Lockwood, executive director. The animals were also anemic and flea-ridden. Before hearing about the arrest, SPCA had decided not to return the spaniels to Martin because of their neglect. The Doberman pinscher was initially returned to Martin, but was again seized from him on Wednesday.

The dogs are being put up for adoption when they recover from their injures, probably in several weeks, Lockwood said.