PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Nearly 200 neglected farm animals were rescued from a property in north-central Pennsylvania and are now in protective custody at the Pennsylvania SPCA’s headquarters in North Philadelphia.
PSPCA humane law enforcement officers removed 188 animals from Philip Malencore’s property last month, located in Berwick, Pennsylvania. They rescued 112 pigeons, 37 rabbits, 13 sheep, 13 doves, six chickens, two ducks, two dogs, a peacock, a miniature horse and a donkey.
Officials said the animals were kept in unsanitary conditions that were not protected from the elements, and they severely lacked potable water and veterinary care.
Malencore was arrested and is now free on bail. He was charged with 353 counts of animal cruelty, some of the felony level.
According to the PSPCA, several sheep were emaciated from a lack of food, and their coats were overgrown and soiled. Authorities say Malencore “intentionally” tortured a donkey by letting its hooves painfully overgrow, and he did not provide care for the mini horse, which was underweight and had oral ulcers.
And, they say the dogs had Lyme disease, ticks and whipworms.
“Clean and sanitary shelter was not provided to a vast majority of these animals,” said Nicole Wilson, PSPCA director of humane law enforcement and shelter operations. “There were a number of animals that had significant medical issues.”
After threats were made against the PSPCA’s Danville facility and staff — surveillance video showed trespassers on the property — the animals were moved to the organization’s North Philadelphia headquarters.
Malencore is refusing to surrender the animals to the PSPCA, preventing them from being properly adopted or placed in a sanctuary.
“Once the animals are available, presumably either through the adjudication of the case or his surrender, we would then make those animals available either through adoption or placement through specific rescue groups that have a specific skill set, with regards to the different kind of animals that were taken in this case,” she added.
Wilson said it could cost about $10,000 a month to care for the animals as the case goes through the legal system, which is expected to last several months.