Case Against Punxsy Man Facing Animal Neglect Charges Moves Forward in Court

JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – The case against a Punxsutawney man facing animal cruelty charges has been waived for court.

According to court documents, the following charges against 20-year-old Jeremy Robert Harris were waived for court during a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, November 8:

– Aggravated Cruelty to Animals – Causing SBI or Death, Felony 3 (three counts)
– Cruelty to Animals, Misdemeanor 2 (three counts)
– Neglect of Animals – Shelter/Protection, Misdemeanor 3 (three counts)
– Neglect of Animals – Sustenance/Water, Misdemeanor 3 (three counts)

The case was transferred to the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas.

He remains free on unsecured bail.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, Punxsutawney-based State Police were dispatched to a residence on Coolspring Road in Oliver Township, Jefferson County, for a report of at least one dog on the property that had been making noises since the previous day. The dog was unable to be seen from the road due to brush and other objects.

An officer responded to the residence and was unable to locate anyone inside the residence. The officer walked down a path from the front door to the part of the property where the dog sounds were coming from and observed three dogs in poor living conditions.

The first dog, an 11-month-old Fox Terrier-Weiner dog (later identified as Lilly) was contained in a rabbit hutch with a water bottle that was filling up with green rain water. There were also two bowls in the hutch, which contained rabbit feces and no food or water. The rabbit hutch was “filled with several inches of rabbit feces,” and there were two deceased rabbits laying at the base of the hutch, the complaint states.

A second dog, a 27-week-old Husky (later identified as Bear) was housed in a 4×8 cage with another puppy, a 13-week-old Husky (later identified as Minnie). There was no food or water, and the cage floor was “wet dirt.“ One of the Huskies was “unable to get out of its own feces,” the complaint indicates.

All three dogs were removed, placed in kennels, and transported to the Punxsutawney Animal Hospital.

After evaluation and treatment, Willow Run Sanctuary took responsibility of all three dogs.

The officer placed a note in the mailbox at the property requesting contact, the complaint notes.

On June 10, police were contacted by Jeremy Harris and 19-year-old Jennifer Rose Harris, of Brookville, who said they were the owners of the dogs.

Jeremy told police he brought the dogs to this residence yesterday from another residence. He stated he got the Husky dogs near Tyrone and Bellefonte. Both Jeremy and Jennifer stated that the Husky dogs are service dogs, the complaint states.

On June 13, police received the vet reports for all three dogs, which contained the following:

– “Lilly” 9.3 lbs – Underweight, ate a ton of treats and acted like she was starving. BCS (Body Condition Score) 2.
– “Bear” 26 lbs – Generalized Wasting, coat dirty, offered food in clinic and ate so ravenously like it was its last meal/never ate a meal, absolutely ravenous. BCS 1.
– “Minnie” 13.4 lbs – Generalized Wasting, Emaciated, coat dirty and smelly, ate like it was her last meal/never had a meal. BCS 1.

On June 17, police spoke with Jeremy Harris again, who stated that he had taken the Husky dogs to the Brookville Animal Hospital recently. The officer asked if it was Dr. Shield’s office and Jeremy said yes.

Police spoke to both the Brookville Veterinary Hospital and the Jefferson Animal Clinic, which could not find any information on the dogs, nor Jeremy Harris or Jennifer Harris, according to the complaint.

On June 30, all three dogs were rechecked:

– “Lilly” – 9.8 lbs (rechecked on July 6, 10 lbs)
– “Bear” – 41 lbs
– “Minnie” – 22 lbs

According to the complaint, restitution to Willow Run Sanctuary was required, and totaled $2,939.62 for the veterinary care.

On July 27, police spoke with Jeremy Harris again. Officers read him his rights, to which he signed and agreed to speak with police.

Jeremy stated he was helping his grandfather after he had four strokes. He said his grandfather was watching because he was up at Camp Mountain Run, the complaint states.

Jeremy further told police that Bear was obtained due to PTSD for his wife while Minnie was obtained approximately one week “before his autism,” and Lilly was obtained for his daughter, the complaint indicates.

He then told police that the rabbits were 6 to 7 years old and died approximately one week before the incident.

At the interview, Jeremy produced a card that stated Minnie was a Registered Service Animal, and was registered to Jeremy Harris since May 24, 2022.

Jeremy stated that money was an issue with taking the animals to the vet and building them more permanent housing on the property, the complaint states.

According to court documents, Jennifer Harris waived the following charges for court on September 27:

– Aggravated Cruelty to Animals – Causing SBI or Death, Felony 3 (three counts)
– Cruelty to Animals, Misdemeanor 2 (three counts)
– Neglect of Animals – Shelter/Protection, Misdemeanor 3 (three counts)
– Neglect of Animals – Sustenance/Water, Misdemeanor 3 (three counts)

Separate Case Against Jeremy Harris and Jennifer Harris Accused of Animal Cruelty

According to a criminal complaint, police were dispatched to a residence on Howe Road, in Union Township, Jefferson County, for a report of dead animals at a rental property around 4:01 p.m. on June 10.

Upon arrival, officers observed four deceased rabbits in outdoor rabbit hutches at the residence. There was also a dead kitten in a carrier in the master bedroom, two dead “peeps” in a carrier in the master bedroom, and two empty dog crates in the living room. Officers also noted dog feces that was on the floor in the residence, the complaint states.

Although there was no one home at the residence, police observed multiple vehicles in the driveway that were registered to Jeremy Harris and his mother.

Police then interviewed a known woman, who is the landlord’s granddaughter and helps with the trailer court. She confirmed that Jeremy Harris and Jennifer Harris were the tenants.

The woman said found the deceased rabbits and subsequently entered the residence, which was unlocked, to check for other animals before finding the other dead animals, according to the complaint.

The woman also told police she believed the Harris’ had three dogs at the residence, the complaint notes.

Police then spoke with Jeremy Harris, who stated the four rabbits all died a couple days ago from old age. He further told police he thought his wife, Jennifer Harris, “pitched them,” the complaint indicates.

Harris also said the kitten died, but he had no idea on the peeps and that they “were from the old house,” according to the complaint.

On July 27, police spoke with Jeremy Harris again. Officers read him his rights, to which he signed and agreed to speak with police.

Jeremy Harris stated that he and Jennifer Harris were renting the residence, but left because they had no water. Jeremy told police that the rabbits died due to old age.

He then stated they had a female kitten that they obtained, but it died right after getting it and they “didn’t have the money to take it to the vet,” the complaint states.

He further told police that there were no birds in the other kennel. It was just feathers, bedding, and poop, the complaint indicates.

The following charges against Jeremy Harris were waived for court on October 6:

– Neglect of Animals – Vet Care, Misdemeanor 3 (seven counts)

Jennifer Harris waived the following charges for court on November 1:

– Neglect of Animals – Vet Care, Misdemeanor 3 (seven counts)

She is currently free on unsecured bail.

The cases against both individuals were transferred to the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas.


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