Shaquanna Douglas of Honesdale is charged with three counts of animal cruelty related to a four-month-old puppy. “She’s being charged with one count of abandonment. She left the puppy in a dark bathroom with no food or water (a) minimum of four days,”Metzger said.

She says they received a tip that the dog was in the apartment and that Douglas had gone away. Metzger said she did find an empty bowl in the room. She said the dog was “very, very thin” when they removed him from the apartment October 14, weighing about 14 pounds, when he should have weighed “20 or more.”

“When we discovered the puppy in the bathroom, he also had a very bad limp ...which was due to a previous fracture that was untreated.” Douglas is also charged with failing to provide necessary veterinary care “to a pup suffering from a pelvis/femur injury resulting from trauma” and for failure to provide necessary food and water.

The American Staffordshire puppy is currently in the Dessin Animal Shelter’s custody. Metzger says he underwent surgery, to repair his broken leg and is doing well.

Douglas is also charged with dog law violations for failing to have a dog license and rabies vaccination for her puppy.

Cruelty to animals is a summary offense, punishable by a fine of $50 to $750, and up to 90 days in jail.

Reference:

The Wayne Independent