Benjamin S. Stoltzfus, 33, of Conowingo Road in Quarryville, is facing a summary citation, which was the maximum allowable punishment under state law, the DA's office noted in a news release.
Stedman also announced his office is asking Lancaster County's president judge to suspend Susan Martin's Humane Society police officer designation, alleging she enforced animal-cruelty laws in a "substandard" fashion, according to the release.
In addition to her Humane Society police officer duties, Martin also is executive director of the Lancaster County SPCA.
Stedman said Lancaster County will change its procedures on policing, enforcing and prosecuting animal-cruelty cases. For now, the Lancaster County SPCA will not be conducting enforcement, the release states.
'Sweeping' changes sought: Lancaster County Detective Joanne Resh will assist state and municipal police in investigating suspected animal abuse, according to the release.
Stedman described the changes as sweeping and said Pennsylvania's animal-cruelty laws have been insufficient for years — an assessment animal-rights advocates have asserted for decades.
He said he will ask state legislators to make penalties harsher for those convicted of cruelty and to increase the grading of some types of cruelty from summary to misdemeanor, according to the release.
Stedman also wants animal-cruelty officers to complete specific training and be subject to background checks, and he said his office should be involved in the selection of future animal-cruelty officers, the release states.
After being nursed back to health, Libre went home with Janine Guido, founder and owner of Speranza Animal Rescue in Mechanicsburg. She calls him her "bug-eyed miracle."
About Libre
Four-month-old Libre was saved by a delivery truck driver who saw him a number of times over a two-month period at an Amish dog-breeding facility in Lancaster County and convinced the owners to give him the dog on July 4 so he could get help for it, according to a Lancaster Online article.
The Lancaster County SPCA had declined to press charges against the breeder, spurring protests of the shelter and of Martin.
The driver delivered the pup to a former humane officer, who took it to an emergency animal hospital and contacted Speranza Animal Rescue. It was Guido who named Libre, declined to have him euthanized and instead took him to Dillsburg Veterinary Center.
Libre was emaciated and dehydrated, suffering from demodectic mange (which is not the contagious type of mange) and secondary skin infections. He initially couldn't stand up on his own and had ulcers around his eyes. A number of maggots had to be removed from his open wounds, according to Speranza.
"His eyelids were so swollen he literally could not shut his eyes," Guido said, adding a veterinary ophthalmologist has told her Libre will need surgery soon on his right eye.
A fighter
The mites that carry demodectic mange are common on dogs, but as long as dogs are healthy, they don't contract the disease, Guido said. It's generally sick or immuno-compromised dogs that develop the condition, she said.
"Most dogs would have died a week before we got him," Guido said. "I don't know what drove him to keep fighting, but I'm so glad he did. At first I thought I'd be bringing his ashes home with me."
Libre's struggle went viral on social media sites, and he gained tens of thousands of supporters from around the world who have sent donations and gifts to both him and to Dillsburg Veterinary Center, a staffer there has said.
Dillsburg Veterinary Center continues to accept donations to help offset the costs of caring for Libre. To do that, call the clinic at (717) 432-7031 or send a check to them at 8 Tristan Drive, No. 1, Dillsburg, PA 17019.
People also can donate to Speranza Animal Rescue online or through the nonprofit animal rescue's Facebook page.
Search Facebook and Twitter for #justiceforlibre and #librestrong to be part of the online conversation.
(York Dispatch - Aug 12, 2016)
Finally. Libra gets his day in court.
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