A couple in Chester County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on Monday to hanging two dogs to death at their breeding kennel. According to the Pennsylvania SPCA, Elizabeth and John Stoltzfus had been charged with four counts of animal cruelty and four counts of conspiracy to commit animal cruelty for hanging, and then burning, a Bichon-type dog and a goldendoodle-type dog at their kennel in August 2017.
According to the Daily Local, the couple agreed to plead guilty in exchange for probation. Elizabeth Stoltzfus pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of failure to keep the kennels in a sanitary and humane condition, and two misdemeanor counts of failure to notify authorities prior to the euthanasia of any dog. She has been banned from having any dogs for the next two years. Her husband pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of willfully killing and/or torturing the dogs. He is not allowed to own any dogs for the next ten years.
The Stolzfuses’ kennel called Garden Spot Puppy Haven has since had its license revoked. The two dogs that were killed suffered from Brucellosis, an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans through contact with animals. The disease is treatable to both humans and dogs through antibiotics. Stoltzfus killed the dogs by hanging and then burned their bodies.
The two surviving dogs – both goldendoodles, named Connie and Cathy, were surrendered to the Pennsylvania SPCA. They will be made available for adoption.
(Photos of Chester County dogs via PA SPCA)
Read the previous coverage of this disturbing case here.
Read more on National Pet Rescue by clicking here.
Body of dog found inside of dumped cage – read more here.
Dog dragged behind vehicle after jumping out of the back of truck – read more here.
Probation???? WTF kind of PUNISHMENT IS THAT???
No WONDER Pennsylvania (along with Ohio, WisconSIN, and Minnesota) are legendary for such abusive, heinous, CRIMINAL breeding facilities – SINCE THE OFFENDERS ARE RARELY (IF EVER) ACTUALLY PUNISHED!!!
Goddam human beings!
“Man-kind”: THE quintessential oxymoron, if ever there was!
Rest-in-peace, you precious souls: You COULD HAVE/SHOULD HAVE been properly treated, and recovered to live happy, healthy lives … far, far away from these two murderous cretins!
This is a really disgusting sentence. Pennsylvania gives abusers light sentences as it is, but they’re really easy on the Amish, who are the WORST OF THE WORST.
These scumbags have had 2 puppy mills closed already (or is it 3?) and are on the ‘worst 100’ list. If anyone deserves the MAXIMUM amount of time, this vermin does!
I believe they are Amish. Heard that name before. All that got was probation? !
Wow probation and can’t own dogs for two years and him 10 years, she will be back in the puppy mill business in two years. Garden Spot Puppy Haven should NEVER have been issued a license in the first place! Hey Pennsylvania how about making a punishment mean something? These two dogs were tortured! Elizabeth and John Stoltzfus need jail time for what they are doing, not a slap on the wrist!
That “special place” in HELL is waiting … Hope they receive an infinite volume of “sneak previews” right here on earth!
Are you FUCKING kidding me???? A fucking misdemeanor??? WTF! They both need to be hung and burned. There was no reason for this and they both need to be thrown in PRISON!!!! Only 2 and 10 yrs without any animals, they should NEVER be allowed to be around another animal EVER!!!! Dumb Fucking Assholes!!
Is there any petition for giving them REAL sentence? This one is insulting.