- Pennsylvania, USA -
On Monday, February 26, 2024, the Pennsylvania SPCA's Animal Law Enforcement rescued two dogs following a complaint submitted to their hotline regarding the furbabies’ welfare at a home in the 500 block of Dauphin Street in Lancaster.
According to the press release by the Pennsylvania SPCA, once inside the property Officers found a male brown Pitbull type dog named Beans. Beans was “in an emaciated body condition”, stated the release, scoring “a 1/9 on the Purina Body Condition scale, the lowest possible score for a living dog.”
Beans had muscle wasting, ribs and hips showing, and a “sunken skull visible to the naked eye.” After Beans was examined by a vet, it emerged that he was also “anemic, dehydrated and infested with fleas.”
Officers identified 21-years-old PABLO DURAN as Beans’ guardian.
Inside the same property, Officers found a second dog, a female miniature Poodle type named Pompei.
Pompei “was found to be suffering from a complete displaced fracture to one of her hind legs, a break in the pelvis and a full circumferential ligature mark around her muzzle cutting through the lip.” Additionally, Pompei, “had sclera hemorrhage indicative of strangulation or blunt force trauma, a dirty hair coat and urine staining on her legs.”
Officers identified 28-years-old DONNA RENEE SMELTZER as Pompei’s guardian.
On the same day, the Voiceless Victims were removed from the evil individuals and brought to the PSPCA’s Main Line Animal Rescue for immediate and critical veterinary care.
As stated in the release, “Pompei will require specialty surgery for her hind leg to be saved. Beans has been placed on a refeeding plan and is being monitored closely as he begins his recovery.”
On February 29, 2024, The Pennsylvania SPCA, alongside Lancaster County Detectives and the City of Lancaster Police Department, executed arrest warrants for SMELTZER and DURAN.
According to the press release, SMELTZER “is charged with felony animal cruelty for intentionally or knowingly failing to provide necessary veterinary care causing serious bodily injury. She is also charged with felony animal torture due to a broken leg and pelvis, as well as ligature marks to the muzzle of Pompei. On the misdemeanor level she is charged with knowingly or recklessly ill-treating an animal causing bodily injury or risking serious bodily injury.”
While DURAN is charged with felony animal cruelty “for knowingly or intentionally torturing Beans, causing prolonged pain and suffering through the deprivation of necessary sustenance. He is also charged on the felony level for intentionally failing to provide veterinary care causing serious bodily injury or death.” On the misdemeanor level, DURAN “is charged with knowingly or recklessly ill-treating Beans, risking serious bodily injury or death.”
Court records show that the evil duo are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Jodie E. Richardson.
Julie Klim, CEO of the Pennsylvania SPCA, said: “This case of animal cruelty is particularly disturbing. The physical injuries to these precious dogs are hard to stomach, and knowing that their suffering was prolonged by a lack of food and veterinary care is heart-wrenching.”
Nicole Wilson, Director of Animal Law Enforcement and Shelter Services at the Pennsylvania SPCA, stated: “The heinous and seemingly intentional mistreatment of these animals is hard to fathom, and it is our hope that the individuals involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
If you wish and can afford to donate toward Pompei and Beans’ medical care, please click here. Thank you!
For updates on Pompei and Beans, please check out the Pennsylvania SPCA’s Facebook page. Thank you!
Anyone with information about this case or other cases involving animal cruelty is urged to call the Pennsylvania SPCA's Cruelty Hotline at (866) - 601 - SPCA. Tips can be left anonymously. Thank you!
Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the official press release by the Pennsylvania SPCA provided to Voice For Us.
Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
Photos of Pompei and Beans shared from Pennsylvania SPCA and Main Line Animal Rescue (MLAR).
I wager these two monsters never missed a meal! How on earth can a human be so inhumane? Bless Pompei & Beans & may their road to recovery be filled with not just sustenance but love too!