But Martin, who is also head of the Lancaster County SPCA, stopped short of giving up her appointment now, saying she may let the civil process play out so the truth can be told about exactly what happened.
In a statement she released Friday morning, Martin said she consulted with the district attorney’s office before deciding not to file charges in the case of a puppy named Libre, a decision Stedman cited when announcing his petition.
“As animal control officer, I have consulted with the district attorney’s office about the decision of whether or not to bring charges in every case of animal abuse or neglect. Libre’s case is no exception,” Martin said in the statement.
Martin said her decision not to bring charges against Libre’s owner was based on numerous consultations with the district attorney’s office, including phone calls, text messages and email exchanges.
Martin declined to share the content of her communications with the district attorney’s office.
“She never asked to file charges, or for approval to do so,” he said.
Martin says now that she consulted with the DA's office and they refused to file charges. However, in an earlier article Martin stated that no charges would be filed 'because it is impossible to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt that the individual willingly and knowingly grossly neglected care for the animal intending to cause foreseeable grave injury or harm.”'
“I found no evidence this farmer had been neglecting this dog,” Martin said.
Are you kidding me? All you have to do is look at this puppy and see that he was intentionally neglected and abandoned in pen to die!
Also, Martin’s investigation of the Libre case was only a small piece of the substandard conduct referred to in the petition to suspend her license, Hambright said, noting that detailed facts would be presented at an upcoming hearing.
INITIAL INVESTIGATION
In an earlier article, Martin said she received a text message about the puppy’s condition on Saturday, July 2nd. She did not visit the farm in question for several days, she said, because she was home with the flu.
However, she said, she forwarded a photo of the puppy, taken by SPCA volunteer Dextin Orme, to staff veterinarian Kelly Bergman, who determined the puppy was “not in imminent danger.”
“Unless the dog were in imminent danger, no officer could seize the dog without a warrant,” Martin said. She did not believe the photo, she added, was sufficient cause for a warrant.
HOW CAN YOU SEE THIS PUPPY AND SAY THERE IS NO PROBABLE CAUSE FOR A SEARCH WARRANT TO SEIZE IT??? BY HER OWN ADMISSION, SHE SAID NO ONE DID ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DYING PUPPY "FOR SEVERAL DAYS".
During the Thursday morning press conference, Stedman announced that state police had filed a cruelty charge against the breeder of Libre (an Amish man named Benjamin Stoltzfus, 33), the puppy who was rescued from a Quarryville farm in July.
Stedman said then he was looking for “increased professionalization” in how animal cruelty charges are handled and that enforcement will not be handled by Lancaster County SPCA personnel for the time being.
Instead Lancaster County Detective Joanne Resh will serve as the lead contact, Stedman said.
Hambright said Friday that the district attorney’s office had already taken steps for countywide training of all police officers who will be involved in animal cruelty investigations.
“Also, District Attorney Stedman has personally contacted a state legislator about advancing legislative change in animal cruelty laws,” Hambright said.
Martin said Friday she was happy to see such involvement at the county level.
“I welcome the district attorney's willingness to finally take on the important role of enforcing animal cruelty laws as a vital function of county government. This will allow more time for me to focus on the SPCA's mission of caring for animals in need,” she said.
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| Libre is slowly recovering and hopefully will have a wonderful life no thanks to Susan Martin |
“The pictures speak for themselves,” Janine Guido of Speranzo Animal Rescue said. “Susan Martin is supposed to be a voice for these animals. She is not.”
(LancasterOnline - Aug 12, 2016)
Earlier:
God's love, care and concern is flowing full-force in that Amish dog breeder. NOT!!!
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