Sales Stables Cited for Live Animals on ‘Dead Pile’
By Ryan Robinson, Lancaster New Era, Pa.
Feb. 21–New Holland Sales Stables Inc. faces charges of animal cruelty after a live cow and a live sheep were allegedly left on a “dead pile” at the sales stables last year.
A New Holland animal hauler also is charged with animal cruelty in one of the incidents. Pennsylvania SPCA officer Pennell Hopkins filed the three charges. They will be heard before District Justice Rodney Hartman, 745 E. Main St., New Holland, at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
New Holland Sales Stables did not immediately return a phone call for comment. One incident allegedly happened on Sept. 12. Livestock hauler Gerald Martin of Valley View Road, New Holland, was charged with cruelty to animals for his alleged involvement with the “cruel and inhumane transport of one Holstein cow,” according to Hopkins.
She said the cow was left in the “dead pile” area. Martin could not be reached for comment today.
“This has been an ongoing problem at the sales stables, live animals being left on the dead pile, and they receive no veterinarian attention except when I have called attention to it,” Hopkins said, adding that she does not know who leaves the live animals there.
“I don’t know if it is the haulers or the stables’ employees, but there have been cases documented for a number of years, and no steps have been taken,” she said.
New Holland Sales Stables was charged with cruelty to animals in the cow incident and also for another alleged incident that involved a sheep on July 1. That day, Hopkins said, Keith Mohler, also a humane society officer, observed a “live and suffering sheep” in the dumpster outside New Holland Sales Stables.
“This sheep lay there for a number of hours,” Hopkins said. She added that she didn’t know who put the animal in the dumpster. Hopkins filed all three charges Nov. 3. Hartman heard Martin’s case Dec. 28 and it was continued it until Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., the same time the New Holland Sales Stables will come before the court, Hartman said.
Hopkins said that in the past she did not file cruelty to animals charges related to alleged incidents of mistreatment because she tried to first work out a solution with the sales stables.
“They’ve had enough warnings about live animals being left on the dead pile,” she said. “Nothing has changed. Unfortunately, I see court as the only solution.”
Hopkins declined to give further details of the incidents in advance of Tuesday’s hearings. She said animal cruelty charges involving large animals are considered summary offenses, which can result in fines of $50 to $750 and a maximum of three months in jail.
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