Two people have been charged with animal cruelty in Ashland after abandoning two dogs and leaving them locked inside a house.According to Police Chief Ger Daley, on February 17th, 2020, he received a report of animals being neglected at 1412 West Centre Street, Ashland. Daley said this was the second time he was called to this residence since January.
Neighbors told police that two dogs had been barking inside the residence for several days and the residents of 1412, Derek Reese, 23, and Kayla Schaeffer,24, had not been seen since February 11th, 2020.
From outside the home, Daley said, through a window, he could see one dog in a cage and a second dog running around.
On the morning of Tuesday, February 18th, 2020, Daley obtained a search warrant through MDJ Hale and along with Office Krape entered the home.
Daley said as they entered the home they found extremely unsanitary conditions. The cage that the dog was locked in was filled with urine and feces along with a second empty cage in the same condition. Both dogs were reportedly covered in urine and feces with no sanitary water or food left behind for them. There was also multiple piles of feces and puddles of urine throughout the entire residence.
Daley said any items that were left behind in the home were chewed apart by the dogs including soiled baby diapers.
Hillside SPCA assisted police and is caring for both dogs.
Daley filed charges through Magisterial District Judge Christina Hale's Office on Reese and Schaeffer both with 2 counts of felony charges of cruelty to animals and a warrant has been issued for both their arrests.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts should contact the Ashland Police Department at (570) 875-2600 or Schuylkill County Communications at (570) 462-1991.
Photos Below of the conditions police found as they entered the home
