PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Delaware County woman is facing animal cruelty charges after a video circulated of her allegedly pouring bleach on food left outside for cats in her Chester neighborhood last month.
After receiving a tip about 35-year-old Lauren Carter’s alleged actions, the Pennsylvania SPCA launched an investigation and executed a search warrant at her residence. Evidence was confiscated, and tests were conducted to see what the liquid was.
PSPCA spokesperson Gillian Kocher said the investigation revealed that Carter allegedly poured bleach on the cat food at least two times.
"We do believe based on our investigation that no animals did consume the food,” Kocher said. “Our officers went out through the area to make sure that no animals were sick or deceased, but it is, of course, our intention that this doesn't happen again, and the animals in the neighborhood are kept safe."
Carter faces two second-degree animal cruelty misdemeanors.
“And that stems from the fact that this did not happen one time; it happened two times, and we want to make sure that it does not happen again. Our team will continue through the court process to see what the end result may be,” Kocher said.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for June.
