Officers find 116 animals at Bedminster residence

PENNSYLVANIA -- Humane officers in Bucks County removed 116 animals Thursday from a ranch-style home and its grounds on the 1600 block of Deep Run Road.

Bucks County SPCA Executive Director Anne Irwin described the situation as “obviously a hoarding kind of thing.”

“There were cats, dogs, guinea pigs, domestic birds, chickens, ducks, rats, snakes and lizards,” Irwin said.

The animals were being examined at the humane society’s shelters in Solebury and Quakertown.

“The conditions vary,” Irwin said. “Some are thin; all of them are dirty.”

A humane society officer went to the residence on Wednesday after receiving an anonymous complaint that there were animals living in filthy conditions on the 1600 block of Deep Run Road.

On approaching the residence, Officer Kathy Myron encountered the homeowner, identified as William Cameron, 80, who was walking a small dog outside the home.

According to court papers, Myron said she saw at least six chickens living in “very small and filthy crates” in the front of the home. Cameron said his wife was disabled and she liked to keep the chickens as pets. Myron reported that through the window she could see a cage inside the house with what appeared to a be a duck inside. She could also hear barking coming from inside the residence.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Cameron told her there were “about five” dogs and cats in the house but refused to let Myron go inside. Myron reported that she could smell a strong odor of urine and feces coming from inside the home when a woman, identified in court papers as “Mrs. Cameron,” opened the front door. The couple asked Myron to leave their property.

Irwin said the woman living at the residence and identified in court papers as “Mrs. Cameron” is named Betty Jones.

[William Cameron, 80, and Betty Jones, 61]

On Thursday, Judge Gary Gambardella issued a search warrant for law enforcement officers to search the Cameron property. Humane society and Bedminster police officers were at the scene.

According to Irwin, the dogs and cats are being cared for at the Lahaska shelter. The others were taken to Quakertown, which is a larger facility.

Irwin said there has not yet been a determination on charges in the case. When asked about adopting the animals, Irwin said they are not the SPCA’s animals yet.

“That will have to be sorted out,” she said

If the humane society is given the animals, Irwin said it is their hope that the animals will be adopted.

(Phillyburbs.com - Jul 24, 2013)