OLIVER TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A hearing is set for next week for a Jefferson County woman on felony charges related to an incident where two dogs were allegedly found emaciated and without food or water inside an Oliver Township residence.
Court documents indicate 36-year-old Jessica Ann Carr of Punxsutawney is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 8, on the following charges:
- Aggravated Cruelty to Animals – Causing Serious Bodily Injury or Death, Felony 3 (two counts)
- Cruelty to Animals, Misdemeanor 2 (two counts)
- Neglect of Animals – Sustenance/Water, Misdemeanor 3 (two counts)
- Neglect of Animals – Vet Care, Misdemeanor 3 (two counts)
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint filed by Trooper Mosier, the incident occurred on June 30 after two dogs were left without care at a residence along Siverling Road in Oliver Township, Jefferson County.
A Basenji mix was located in the main living area, loose in the residence, according to the complaint.
Several empty plastic bowls were found on the kitchen floor, along with a Pringles container that the dog had torn open, and there were at least eight places where the dog had urinated or defecated on the dining room floor.
According to the complaint, a Spaniel mix was found in a closed bedroom without food or water, and with no windows open. The dog was hiding under a bed when police arrived.
The complaint notes that it took the removal of the bed and the assistance of six people to finally remove the dog from the room.
Gallon containers and other bottles of water were found on the kitchen counter and a large quantity of dog food was located in the pantry, according to the complaint.
Several neighbors were interviewed and told investigators that they had not seen the homeowner or anyone else at the residence in several days.
The dogs were removed from the residence and later examined by Dr. Becky Morrow of Frankie’s Friends of Pittsburgh on July 1.
According to the complaint, the Spaniel mix’s body condition was rated 3 on a scale of 1 to 9. The dog was underweight and had overgrown nails. The dog was also discovered to be untreated for fleas, positive for Lyme’s Disease, and it had internal parasites and diarrhea. Its skin was inflamed and it had hair loss and displayed signs of having been abused.
The Basenji mix’s body condition was rated 1 on a scale of 1 to 9. The dog was described as emaciated with overgrown nails. The dog was also discovered to be untreated for fleas and positive for Lyme’s Disease. Its skin was greasy and it had hair loss as well as a secondary infection.
On July 3, Trooper Mosier of the Punxsutawney-based State Police interviewed the homeowner who said that the dogs belonged to Jessica Carr, and she was supposed to take care of them.
The man was out of town when the dogs were found.
According to the complaint, Carr contacted the Punxsutawney-based State Police on July 13 and said she had checked on the dogs the day before they were seized.
Carr also said she previously tried to “give the dogs up,” according to the complaint.
The complaint notes that neither of the dogs had been seen by a veterinarian in the two years that they were under Carr’s care.
Carr told police that the dogs originally belonged to her husband who is currently incarcerated.
Charges were filed on Tuesday, August 28, in Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office.
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