Pottstown couple admits to animal neglect charges

NORRISTOWN >> A Pottstown man and woman face court supervision after a dog in the couple’s care was deemed to be “in a state of severe neglect.”

Scott Matthew Eck, 47, of the 400 block of South Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to two years’ probation and 48 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of neglect of animals in connection with an April 2019 incident.

As part of a plea agreement, Eck cannot own or possess any new animals and any animals he currently owns must be current with veterinary care and

licensing, according to court documents.

Lory R. Fielding, 47, also of the South Street address, identified in court documents at the time of the incident as Eck’s fiancée, was sentenced to 90 days of probation and ordered to not possess pets after she pleaded guilty to two summary charges of neglect of animals. Summary offenses are similar to traffic citations.

The sentences were imposed by Judge Cheryl L. Austin as part of plea agreements.

With the charges, prosecutors alleged Eck and Fielding failed to provide necessary sustenance and water and necessary veterinary care for “Chewy,” a male German Shepherd dog in their care.

The case was investigated by Pottstown Police

Sergeant Brian Rathgeb and Tracie Graham, an officer with the Montgomery County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, according to court documents.

The investigation began on April 30, 2019, when Fielding appeared at an SPCA facility with “Chewy” and claimed she wanted to surrender the dog “because he was ill and she couldn’t afford veterinary care,” according to the criminal complaint. Fielding allegedly claimed the dog hadn’t eaten for days and she was unsure what was wrong with him, according to court papers.

At that time, Fielding allegedly insisted that Eck was the owner of the dog but said the dog had lived with the couple for about seven years.

“Chewy was emaciated with his entire skeletal structure visible, he could barely stand and was clearly in need of immediate veterinary care,” Rathgeb

and Graham alleged in the affidavit of probable cause.

When SPCA authorities contacted Eck, he allegedly stated Chewy hadn’t eaten for a week or two. The SPCA took possession of the dog.

The dog immediately was placed under veterinary care and an examination determined the dog suffered from “severe dehydration, severe emaciation, severe periodontal disease,” a bacterial infection of the ear and was malnourished, according to the criminal complaint.

The veterinarian noted the “dog is in a state of severe neglect of greater than three months duration” and required immediate medical care and was “at risk for death,” authorities alleged in court papers.

Other more serious charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and cruelty to animals were dismissed against Eck and Fielding as part of the plea agreements.