The SPCA said that the unnamed owner of the animals would have faced multiple cruelty charges if the dogs weren’t surrendered to the shelter.
“The dogs were surrendered in lieu of charges,” said CCSPCA spokesperson Chris Shaughness. “We felt that the health and safety of the dogs was the top priority.”
The shelter said that the dogs were found in poor condition, heavily matted and covered in urine and feces. Twenty-three of the dogs were found in a shed no larger than six by ten feet, said Craig Baxter, special police officer of the SPCA. Another dog was found tied to a tree.
“I could smell the odor before going into the shed,” said Baxter. “I saw at least 20 dogs through the window.”
The shelter added that the floor of the shed had been covered in sawdust, woodchips, urine and feces.
After arriving at the CCSPCA, the shelter said its medical director Dr. Michelle Mehalick examined the dogs. The dogs ranged from older puppies to adults, and the shelter said they believed they were lhasa Apsos, Shih-Tzus and Bichon Frises, or mixes. The dog found tied to the tree was believed to be a terrier/shepherd mix.
According to Pennsylvania Law, a kennel is considered to be 26 dogs or more. The owner was under that limit; however, the dogs were not licensed and did not have their rabies shots, according to the shelter.
Additionally, the CCSPCA notes on its website under the “What is Cruelty?” headline that “all animals require clean and sanitary living conditions. Living space should be free of debris, and wastes should be removed routinely.”
The CCSPCA said it kept seven of the dogs and worked with the Lancaster County SPCA and Delaware County SPCA, which also took dogs.
Shaughness added that despite the shelter’s decision to allow the unnamed owner to surrender the dogs in lieu of filing charges that the shelter’s Animal Protective Services Department will “be following up to ensure that this situation does not recur.”
(Mainline Media News - Mar 24, 2014)
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