CARLISLE, PA — A 23-year-old woman faces multiple animal cruelty charges after a severely malnourished dog was surrendered to a rescue organization.
Ashlyn Stevens, of Pennsylvania, was charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to animal, one count of cruelty to animal, and one count of neglect of animal following an investigation by the Carlisle Borough Police Department.
Police received a report on Jan. 11 from the previous owner of a dog named Stella, who had been posted on a rescue site in a severely malnourished state.
The former owner stated they had left Stella in Stevens’ care after moving out of their apartment in the 500 block of North Pitt Street in Carlisle Borough.
A friend of Stevens surrendered the dog to Castaway Critters Animal Rescue after observing the animal’s condition in the home.
Officers observed Stella at Shores Veterinary Clinic to be extremely underweight, with visible ribcage, spine, and hip bones.
The dog also displayed severe muscle wasting, trembling legs, and badly infected ears.
The veterinarian on duty performed emergency surgery to remove a stomach and intestinal blockage caused by hair ingestion, which would have been fatal if left untreated.
The veterinarian, with 35 years of experience, rated the level of neglect as 7-8 on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most severe.
The investigation revealed that Stevens had noticed Stella’s weight loss one to two weeks prior to the friend surrendering the dog to the rescue, but knowingly failed to provide veterinary care.
A dog crate recovered from the residence, where Stella slept, was found to have bedding soaked in urine, feces, and mold.
Stevens was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Birbeck.
