Nearly 100 animals were taken from a Columbia home during an animal cruelty investigation, and many will need extensive medical care, according to the Pennsylvania SPCA.
The West Hempfield Police Department reported that officers removed 93 animals from a residence on High Ridge Road on Wednesday and surrendered them to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
According to the PSPCA, the animals included 76 dogs, 15 cats and kittens, and two Flemish rabbits.
The PSPCA said a concerned citizen alerted them to the situation. When investigators arrived, they detected a foul odor coming from the property, which intensified as they approached the front door and garage.
Officers looked through a window and saw multiple dogs in distress, including some with severely matted fur and noticeable hair loss. They also observed piles of excrement and standing liquid throughout the home.
“A fenced-in porch area was coated with feces, and multiple dogs could be seen in crates in the garage living in feces-laden conditions,” the PSPCA wrote in a news release. “Those dogs included a mother German Shepherd and her puppies crammed into a crate.”
Police officers executed a search warrant at at the home and confirmed the “severe” conditions. All 93 animals were removed from the property and signed over to the PSCPA.
Among the animals removed, many were covered in fecal matter and suffered from extreme matting, fur staining, hair loss on the face and body, and scabbing. Water provided was visibly contaminated with excrement,” the PSPCA said. “Some animals were found living in hutches, while others were confined to crates that had been zip-tied shut.
The animal shelter said the animals will undergo forensic medical examinations on Thursday, which will help determine what criminal charges may apply in the case. Many of the animals will require extensive medical treatment.
The West Hempfield Township Police Department also said authorities will file charges based on the outcome of the investigation. The PSPCA noted that those charges could include knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally mistreating an animal, failing to provide clean and sanitary shelter, and neglecting necessary veterinary care.
“The conditions these animals were forced to endure were truly heartbreaking,” said Nicole Wilson, director of animal law enforcement and shelter operations at the Pennsylvania SPCA. “Ninety-three animals living in filth, without clean water, adequate shelter, or basic care – this is why our team works around the clock to respond to these calls. We are grateful to the Good Samaritan who spoke up, the officers from West Hempfield Township and Lancaster County Sheriff Deputies who were committed to the safe removal of all animals and we are committed to ensuring each of these animals receives the care they deserve.”
The PSPCA shared in a Facebook post that the scale of the rescue is enormous, especially since the shelter was already operating at full capacity.
“Please, if you are able, consider making a donation today,” the shelter wrote. “They have been through enough. Now they need us.”
Anyone interested in donating to the PSPCA can click here.
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