11 animals seized from home; cruelty charges pending

The Brandywine Valley SPCA is investigating this case

FRANKLIN >> Eleven animals were seized from a Franklin home on Monday, and were found to be living in substandard conditions and a pungent odor. Some of the animals even had open wounds, according to authorities.

“There was a lot of mold, dust and debris in the house,” said Micaela Malloy, director of operations for the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s Animal Protective Services division. “It was just deplorable. It is inhumane to not provide vet care to an animal who needs it.”

Inside, the basement reportedly stored multiple rabbit cages covered in dust, feces, mold and cobwebs. Similar cages were also found in an outside trailer and shed, along with a rabbit pen in the back of the house. The attic, being utilized as a cattery, stored two queening cages surrounded by dirt, according to authorities.

One of the seized rabbits was found with open wounds exposing muscles and tendons, while

two baby bunnies suffered from eye infections and missing ears, officials said. Amongst the debris, one cat was reportedly discovered with a wound on its head, wheezing and suffering from upper respiratory issues.

Officers found a total of five rabbits, two bunnies, three dogs and one cat. The animals are part of an ongoing investigation by the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s Animal Protective Services Division with charges pending for animal cruelty.

“As advocates for humane treatment, it is our duty to protect the animals within our community and to rescue them from abuse and neglect,” said Adam

Lamb, chief executive officer of BVSPCA. “Now that these animals are in our custody, we can do everything in our power to restore them back to health and give them a second chance at life.”

Malloy said the SPCA had a previous case against the owners of the house, and the Large Animal Protection Society was investigating a claim of a cow being on the property.

Malloy said the house is owned by a husband and wife who rented out to tenants.

SPCA officials were alerted to the problem by someone who had purchased a kitten raised in the attic and found it had severe health defects.

Malloy said all of the animals confiscated will be nursed back to health. She said animal cruelty charges

will be filed today.

The Animal Protective Services Division of the Brandywine Valley SPCA investigates and responds to complaints of animal cruelty of neglect. For more information or to file a report, contact 484-302-0018 or e-mail aps@bvspca.org.

Founded in 1929, the Brandywine Valley SPCA was the first open admission shelter in Pennsylvania to achieve “no kill” status and serves as the only open admission shelter in Chester County. Its mission is to put the “human” back in humane animal treatment and advocate on their behalf. Each year, the BVSPCA cares for nearly 5,000 stray, owner-surrendered, wayward owned, and abused and neglected animals. In 2016, the BVSPCA opened a new shelter in Delaware.

SUBMITTED PHOTO This is one of the rooms that animals were found living among dirt and debris.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Five rabbits, two bunnies, three dogs, and one cat were living in the basement of a Franklin Township home.