MCCALMONT TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A Jefferson County woman is facing a preliminary hearing for felony animal cruelty and related charges after a horse and two ponies in her care were found severely emaciated.
According to court documents, a preliminary hearing for 40-year-old Nicole Lynn Shank, of Punxsutawney, is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, in Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office.
She faces the following charges:
– Aggravated Cruelty to Animals – Torture, Felony 3 (two counts)
– Neglect of Animals – Sustenance/Water, Misdemeanor 3
Willow Run Sanctuary & Adoption Inc. filed the charges against Shank on May 3.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, on Tuesday, April 23, Jefferson County Humane Officer McAndrew received a call of concern regarding a white horse and a pony that appeared to be very thin located at a property on Spruce Street in Punxsutawney, McCalmont Township, Jefferson County.
On Wednesday, April 24, Officer McAndrew arrived at the Spruce Street address and knocked at the residence, where the door was answered by a female. When Officer McAndrew asked about the horses, another female came to the door and identified herself as Nikki Shank and stated she was the owner of the horses.
According to the complaint, when asked where the white horse was, Shank stated it was over in a field behind a visible barn. When Officer McAndrew asked if she could see the horse, Shank complied and accompanied her through the yard to where the white horse was tied. Shank stated the horse was very old, and she had received it in January, allegedly in “worse shape” than it was now.
Officer McAndrew approached the horse, and along the way first observed a small brown pony, completely entangled in wire, not able to move freely on its tie out, according to the complaint.
She then proceeded to the white horse, which was tied to a tree by a slip rope around its neck.
Officer McAndrew immediately observed the severity of the horse’s body condition: every rib and bones of the spine were visible, hip bones were protruding, and the horse’s legs were shaky. She also noted there was no water container in the area. She then returned to the pony and performed a body assessment, due to its thick winter coat. She noted the pony was also in a severe state of emaciation, with every rib, as well as bones of the spine and hips protruding. The pony also had no visible water source, according to the complaint.
The complaint states that while proceeding back toward the house, Officer McAndrew came across another pony tied to a hanging wire. She performed a physical body assessment on the pony, due to it also having a thick winter coat and could again feel every rib, bones of the spine, and the hip bones, though they were not as prominent as the other horses. The second pony also had no visible source of water, though there was an overturned bucket in its vicinity.
Officer McAndrew then returned to speak to Shank again and asked if any of the horses were under any type of vet care.
According to the complaint, Shank said they were not.
Officer McAndrew contacted Willow Run Sanctuary & Adoption’s shelter vet to prepare for the horses’ arrival and then contacted shelter volunteers to bring a horse trailer to the location, as well as the Pennsylvania State Police to serve as a backup and for safety concerns.
Around 10:45 a.m., Office McAndrew informed Shank that the three horses were being removed for emergency veterinary care for their severe body conditions, which is a direct violation of Pennsylvania humane laws. The horses were then transported directly to a local veterinary office, where their body conditions were scored.
According to the complaint, on a body score of one to nine, with nine being overweight and five being a healthy horse, the brown gelding pony scored a one out of nine, the black and white gelding pony scored a two out of nine, and the white mare horse scored a one out of nine.
The horses were then transported to Willow Run Sanctuary for continued care under the direct supervision of the veterinarian.
Based on the investigation, charges were filed on Friday, May 3, and a first-class summons was issued.
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