JOHNSTOWN —
Three abandoned pit bulls were pulled from the basement of a Johnstown home Wednesday. One of the dogs later died, leading to animal cruelty charges being filed against the owner.
Corey Smith, 22, of the 200 block of Laurel Avenue, was charged Thursday with multiple counts of cruelty and abuse of animals. He also was charged with abandonment of animals.
City animal control Officer Patty Shannon said the dogs were found locked behind doors leading into the basement.
One of the dogs “was weak and could barely stand,” Shannon said in a court document.
The dog was taken to a veterinarian on Messenger Street, who said the animal needed emergency care because of the “severity of the dehydration and the sores that could possibly be maggot infested,” the court document said.
The dog was taken to Richland Veterinarian Service, where Shannon was advised the dog was “severely dehydrated, had several open sores, was very anemic, and severly underfed.”
The veterinarian gave the dog fluids and told Shannon to feed the animal small amounts of food several times a day.
Shannon said she placed the dog in a kennel but it would not eat, was very lethargic and suffered seizures before it died.
The two other pit bulls were found in wire cages too small for them to turn around properly and lie down, police said in a court document. The dogs were removed from the house.
Smith was arraigned by District Judge Mary Ann Zanghi of Vinco and sent to the Cambria County Prison after failing to post 10 percent of $50,000 bond.
Police were called to the home after neighbors complained the dogs had been barking for several days and had no one to care for them.
Police said Smith told them he is in the process of moving and was out of town for several days. He said someone was supposed to care for the dogs.
Local News
Related Photos
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Johnstown police said they removed three pit bulls that had been left in this vacant house on Laurel Avenue. Pat Buchnowski
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Corey Smith Submitted Photo
Discussion
Dog owner charged with animal cruelty
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