Two Charged After Animals Were Found Dead, Severely Neglected
QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania State Police have announced charges in a case where dozens of animals were found either dead or severely neglected on a property located in Lower Towamensing Township. Eyewitness News was there when Last Chance Ranch, a group in Quakertown, rescued many of the animals.
Today, 67-year-old Clyde Shoop and 52-year-old Kimberly Shoop were each charged with 11 counts of Animal Cruelty.
Police began investigating the case on January 22 after obtaining a search warrant for the property. A dead horse was found in a pasture and the remains of three other horses were observed underneath several pallets. Remains of another horse were located underneath a partially burned mattress. A pit with two deceased horses, a goat, a dog, two sheep and a lamb was located in a wooded portion of the property. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is investigating the improper disposal of remains.
Also located on the property were approximately 20 sheep, 10 dogs, a calf, a pig, a raccoon, a wild turkey, two alligators, a boa constrictor and several birds. Six of the dogs were voluntarily surrendered on January 22 after Kimberly Shoop denied owning them.
Several organizations assisted with rescuing the surviving animals, including Last Chance Ranch in Quakertown, which called the volume of animals and the number of dead horses "astounding." Last Chance Ranch is asking for donations as they continue to provide veterinary and nutritional care to the animals.
For more information, please click here.
