WILLIAMSTOWN, Pa. — A northern Dauphin County couple has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals after State Police claim they allowed their dog to starve to death in a crate found in their backyard earlier this year.
Theodore Ferrara III, 42, and Lacy Ferrara, 36, both of Tower City, Schuylkill County, were charged with aggravated cruelty to animals by State Police on October 23, after the investigation of the death of a dog they owned while living in Williams Township, Dauphin County in March concluded, according to criminal complaint affidavits filed against both defendants.
Police claim a neighbor contacted authorities on March 21 to report the dog's death. The neighbor reported that the couple had been leaving their home for extended periods without arranging care for the dog, which was typically kept in a crate in the Ferraras' backyard.
The neighbor claimed she had gotten used to hearing the dog barking, but she hadn't heard from the animal for several days. Upon going next door to check on the dog, the neighbor found it lying motionless inside the crate, according to police.
Police reported that the neighbor stated they reached out to Lacy Ferrara to ask about the dog, and Ferrara told her they had to shoot the animal because it had rabies.
The neighbor reported they had not heard any recent gunshots coming from the area of the Ferraras' home, police said.
The responding State Police trooper went to the Ferraras' home to verify the neighbor's claim and found the dog lying dead inside the crate. Police obtained a search warrant for the home and contacted the SPCA, according to the complaint.
The dog's body was seized, and police reports show that no gunshot wounds were visible on the animal when it was taken.
It was ultimately concluded that the dog did not have rabies, nor died of a gunshot wound.
Police stated the Ferraras admitted that the dog belonged to them prior to the filing of charges.
