Taura Krill-McCormick arrested in case of 5 dogs, 4 dead, found abandoned in Beechview

PENNSYLVANIA -- Officers called to a home in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood Friday for a well-being check discovered four dead dogs and an emaciated pit bull, police said.

Police arrested Taura Krill-McCormick, 25 on charges including five counts of animal cruelty and one count of harboring a nuisance, officials said.

Neighbors became concerned when they smelled a foul odor coming from the Sebring Avenue home, and noticed that mail had not been removed from the mailbox, according to Pittsburgh Public Information Officer Sonya Toler.

The dogs are believed to have been abandoned in the home for weeks.

"It's awful, it's heartbreaking. It's also illegal to abandon animals it's illegal to neglect them and to abuse them," said Joy Braunstein, executive director of the Western PA Humane Society.

Two pit bulls, a terrier mix and a Rottweiler were found deceased about noon Friday, Toler said.

Animal Care & Control rescued the emaciated pit bull, which is now being nursed back to health at the Animal Rescue League.

Staff at the Animal Rescue League said the dog who survived was dehydrated and well under weight, but he is expected to survive.

 

“He had access to some sort of food and water, whether it was toilet water or garbage, he at least had access to something to stay alive,” said Katy Ewing, veterinary technician at the Animal Rescue League.

The dog must become healthy again and go through behavioral testing before he can be adopted.

According to the criminal complaint, Krill-McCormick stated that she has no family members or friends to help her with her finances and did not know what she should do with the dogs.

 

She said she was homeless and couldn't take them with her because all of the houses she was sleeping at would not allow her to bring the dogs with her.

Krill-McCormick also said that she would go to her residence every day from February through April to feed her 5 dogs and let them out of their kennels for exercise.

(WPXI Pittsburgh - May 24, 2015)