http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/buddy-dog-owners-be-cited-animals-death/nP226/
CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. —
Following
substantial social media chatter and an online campaign seeking
"justice," Channel 11 News has learned that the owners of a dog in
Connellsville will be cited.
The beagle, now known as "Buddy," died earlier this month in Bullskin Township.
After
receiving hundreds of emails and Facebook posts in regard to the
animal's death, Channel 11 investigated and found out that the dog was
from Fayette County.
“The neighbor that ended up eventually taking
it to the vet clinic to have it looked at had been calling the SPCA
here locally and several other organizations over the course of the last
year to report the conditions of the dog. Apparently he received no
help from anyone,” Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Stefani Plume said.
Since
first learning about the dog's death, Channel 11 has kept in contact
with state police and found out Tuesday that they plan on filing two
citations against the owner: one for animal cruelty and one for not
properly licensing the pet.
The two people who live in the house,
Kelly Lazar and Mike Butler, will have to go before a magistrate and
explain what happened to the dog.
State police said they
interviewed the Fayette SPCA and asked why they didn’t check on the dog
after repeated calls by neighbors.
“Their answer was that the dog wasn’t licensed, therefor they didn’t go out to the house to check on the animal,” Plume said.
Fayette
SPCA claims that no one ever called to complain about the dog's
condition. They said they first learned of the dog when Channel 11 News
contacted them after the dog had died.
Lazar and Butler have not commented on the issue.