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Robert Stephey of Westmont holds veterinarian bills that he paid for a St. Bernard that he eventually had put to sleep. With him is Boswell, a stray that he cares for. John Rucosky
Discussion
YouTube dog videos spark a flood of phone calls
Charges apparently will not be filed against a Westmont dog owner after YouTube videos showing his animals’ condition sparked alarm and prompted dozens of calls to 911 and the media.
West Hills Regional Police said Monday they would not be filing charges against Robert Stephey of Case Avenue over three possibly undernourished dogs he kept on property on Sons of Italy Road.
Likewise, the Cambria County Humane Society has declined to charge him, according to Stephey, 66, a retired steelworker.
The humane society was closed Monday and officials could not be reached for comment.
“I watched the video, and said, ‘Whoa, enough for me,’ ’’ said Tom Hickey of the Pennsylvania Dog Law Advisory Board, who was tipped to the film. He contacted the Cambria County Humane Society which, according to him, did not immediately investigate but turned the matter over to local police.
“I have nothing to be ashamed of,’’ Stephey said of the controversy that has been brewing since Thursday.
“These people should mind their own damned business.’’
Stephey said the videos of the matted-haired dogs – two St. Bernards and a German shepherd mix – were taken by people trespassing on his property. The canines seemed to be living by an abandoned storage building.
Stephey said on Thursday evening he legally put down one of the St. Bernards, which had suffered a stroke weeks ago and whose head permanently was cocked to one side.
“The only reason I didn’t put the dog down weeks ago is I didn’t have the heart,’’ he said.
The second dog was given to a friend in Indiana County and the third dog went to his son in Maryland, police said.
Stephey said he still owns four dogs.
Police began an investigation Thursday night when contacted by a Tipton-based organization called Dogs Deserve Better, which shot the video.
Police have been flooded with calls from dog lovers from as far as Florida, Massachusetts and California.
“Since Friday morning they have been tying up the 911 center,” West Hills police Cpl. Mike Lose said. “It’s been nonstop since the video hit the Internet.”
Also, police have not been able to authenticate the video. The woman who shot the video
– Tammy Thayne, founder of Dogs Deserve Better – has not returned their calls, police said.
They said she might be reluctant to come forward because she could be charged with trespassing on private property.
People who live in the area of Sons of Italy Road said the owner regularly gave the dogs food and water.
“We don’t have enough to charge this guy,” Lose said. “It’s a moot point now since the animal is dead.”
The videos showed two narrow-waisted
St. Bernards. Thayne said in an interview that the shepherd mix was not in quite as bad a shape.
For his part, Stephey said he has had
St. Bernards for years.
At one point, he said, he had a kennel license and 25 dogs in his care.
He said he had rescued both St. Bernards seen on the video.
He said the dog that later suffered the stroke was seriously undernourished and suffering from parasites when he got it.
“He never developed,’’ Stephey said.
“It’s getting kind of carried away, don’t you think? If the Cambria County humane officer said I didn’t do anything wrong ...’’
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