The owner of a Bethlehem Township animal rescue farm is facing multiple animal cruelty charges. According to the Pennsylvania SPCA, sanctuary owner Jahjah Melhem has failed to provide proper care to the animals who live at the Heaven on Earth Farm.
As reported by The Morning Call, charges, including felony charges, were filed against Melhem after humane officers discovered a goat so badly injured that it had to be euthanized, and a kitten in such poor condition that it died. The farm owner had been on the radar of the authorities because of his inability to provide proper care to the dozens of animals who resided there. In August, he agreed to cut the population of farm animals in half, and allow unannounced inspections, in order to avoid a slew of charges reported Lehigh Valley Live.
It was during one of the recent unannounced visits that a humane officer learned that too many animals were once again at the farm.
Officials discovered poor conditions for the animals on the farm, and a variety of health issues that were not being addressed. As reported in the Morning Call, dogs were severely matted and living amidst feces and goats were suffering with foot rot.
The findings at the farm have resulted in multiple charges including six counts of misdemeanor animal neglect for failing to provide adequate veterinary care, three misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and 36 summary offenses for animal neglect.
(Stock image of dog via Pixabay)
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Dog takes herself sledding!
Beautiful horses play in the snow
Sounds more like “Hell on Earth”!
WELL the “SIR” NAME of THIS POS says ENOUGH FOR ME!!!! Why DIDN”T PA do something more significant the FIRST TIME This is A CASE of CLOSE YOUR EYES & It will HOPEFULLY GO AWAY!!! This is TOTAL BS!!!