PUNXSUTAWNEY BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – Criminal charges have been filed against a Punxsutawney man after his injured dog was discovered tied outside unable to reach food, water, or shelter during a severe thunderstorm.
Court documents indicate the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 25-year-old Seth Daniel Yezierski.
According to a criminal complaint, around 11:15 p.m. on July 7, Punxsutawney Borough Police received a call from a known individual reporting that Seth Daniel Yezierski had left his German Shepherd tied up outside in his backyard.
The witness reported the dog was tied out during a severe thunderstorm and was surrounded by piles of garbage, broken glass, piles of wood, and a lawnmower. The witness also told police the dog had been barking and crying for five hours and was tangled up.
Police proceeded to the scene and found the dog standing on a pile of 2×4 planks attempting to balance on a lawnmower, the complaint states. The tether the dog was tied by was completely wrapped around the handle brace of the mower so tightly that the dog could not reach food, water, or shelter during the storm that had recently passed through.
According to the complaint, police found that the dog had approximately six inches of tether left and had to keep his head down close to the mower because he was wrapped up so tightly.
Police also discovered the dog had a cut on his paw between his pad and toes and the planks near the animal were completely saturated in blood from the cut.
The complaint notes they also found soggy dog food on the sidewalk outside and inside the covered patio as well as a small amount of water, which the dog could not reach. The inside of the covered patio was found to be littered with garbage, broken glass, and broken furniture.
The complaint also notes the dog was soaked from being caught outside during the severe thunderstorm.
Police then took the dog off the tether, put it on a borrowed leash, and placed it in a patrol vehicle.
According to the complaint, the dog was limping due to the cut on its paw, which continued to bleed severely. Police then contacted Human Officer Deb McAndrew who referred them to Just Us For the Animals for help obtaining veterinary care for the injured dog.
A representative of Just Us For The Animals was able to meet police at the Punxsutawney Borough Police Station and use veterinary glue to stop the bleeding of the dog’s paw.
The dog was then given food and water before being picked up by a Dog Law Enforcement Officer.
The complaint also notes the dog was very nervous around males and would cower in fear if anyone raised their arm quickly, as if he had been abused in the past.
Police then made multiple attempts to contact Yezierski about the dog, leaving him a voicemail, as well as a note at his residence.
The following charges were filed against Yezierski through Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office on July 8:
– Neglect of Animals – Vet Care, Misdemeanor 3
– Cruelty to Animals, Summary
– Tethering of Dogs, Summary
– Animals – Shelters for dogs, Summary
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on August 17 with Judge Mizerock presiding.
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