LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — A Lancaster pair has been charged with animal cruelty and related charges after two dogs were seized from their care.
The Pennsylvania SPCA alongside Lancaster County Detectives and the City of Lancaster Police Department executed arrest warrants for Pablo Duran and Donna Renee Smeltzer on Thursday, Feb. 29.
Both have been charged with three counts of animal cruelty, including felony and misdemeanor level charges in the abuse of two dogs at the home.
According to the PSPCA, officers arrived at the property for a welfare check on the dogs and found a brown Pitbull-type dog who belonged to Duran in an emaciated condition.
The dog, identified as Beans, scored a 1/9 on the Purina Body Condition scale, the lowest possible score for a living dog. Beans had muscle wasting, ribs and hips easily visible as well as a sunken skull visible to the naked eye. Additionally, a veterinary examination found that Beans was anemic, dehydrated and infested with fleas.
Duran has been charged on the felony level for knowingly or intentionally torturing Beans and causing prolonged pain and suffering through the deprivation of necessary substances. He has also been charged on the felony level for intentionally failing to provide veterinary care, causing serious bodily injury or death.
On the misdemeanor level, Duran has been charged with knowingly or recklessly ill-treating Beans, risking serious bodily injury or death.
A miniature poodle-type dog, identified as Pompei, was also found in the house and belonged to Donna Renee Smeltzer. 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 her lip.
She also had a sclera hemorrhage vindictive or strangulation or blunt force trauma, a dirty haircoat and urine staining on her legs. Pompei scored a 3/9 for her body condition, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Smeltzer has been 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 Pompei's broken leg and pelvis, as well as the ligature marks on her muzzle.
On the misdemeanor level, Smeltzer has been charged with knowingly or recklessly ill-treating an animal, causing bodily injury or risking serious bodily injury.
“It is our hope that while we cannot erase what happened to these dogs, we can work to bring them the justice they deserve,” said Nicole Wilson, Director of Animal Law Enforcement and Shelter Services at the Pennsylvania SPCA. “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.”
Beans and Pompei were removed from the property and brought to the PSPCA's Main Line Animal Rescue for immediate and critical veterinary care.
Pompei will require specialty surgery for her hind leg to be saved and Beans has been placed on a refeeding plan and is being monitored closely as he begins his recovery.
"This case of animal cruelty is particularly disturbing,” said Julie Klim, CEO of the Pennsylvania SPCA. “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.”
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.
The PSPCA has opened donations for those interested in assisting Beans and Pompei. Their official donation page can be found here.
