The Pennsylvania SPCA is asking for the public’s help. On Wednesday, April 22, the Animal Law Enforcement team, with the assistance of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department and the West Hempfield Township Police, executed a search warrant in Lancaster County.
It had been a concerned citizen who had contacted the authorities.
Once arriving at the scene, what officers, rescuers and volunteers walked into had been both heartbreaking and overwhelming. Before even opening the front door, the strong, foul odor stung their airways. And as they moved closer, they could see the dogs inside the home, clearly suffering and in distress. Once in the house, the full reality of the terrible situation became clear.
The home was filled with feces and standing waste. A fenced-in porch had been coated in filth. In the garage, dogs were confined to crates where they had been forced to live in those same conditions; some of the crates zip-tied shut, with no escape.
The only water provided for the dogs, who had access to it, was visibly contaminated with feces. Even the most basic care for the dogs had been passed over.
The animals had been covered in feces; their coats filthy and terribly matted. Some of the dogs suffered from hair loss, scabbing and severe staining.
Many were just puppies, and the breeds consisted of shepherds, Newfoundlands, Labrador retrievers and ShihTzus.
At the end of the long day needed to remove all the pets from their living hell, a total of 93 animals were removed – 76 dogs and puppies, 15 cats and kittens and two rabbits.
Every pet is now being examined; some will be needing extensive medical treatments. All of them will be needing time, patience and care in order to help heal from the awful conditions they had endured for such a long period of time.
The Pennsylvania SPCA is now beyond capacity. The scale of this rescue is immense, and the resources required to care for 93 animals at once are staggering.
An investigation is currently underway, and charges could include knowingly, recklessly or intentionally ill-treating an animal, as well as failing to provide clean and sanitary shelter and veterinary care.
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