Effort woman charged with cruelty and neglect to animal
An Effort woman faces multiple charges of neglect and cruelty to animals.
Denise Crooker, 53, faces charges on eight counts each of cruelty to animals and neglect to animals, and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by trooper George Tessitore of the Pennsylvania State Police Fern Ridge barracks:
At 7:41 a.m. Sept. 19, Tessitore was dispatched to 752 Toll Road, Chestnuthill Township, for a report of a malnourished dog chained to a tree in the driveway of the residence.
Tessitore responded to the scene, assisted by trooper George Weitz. They saw a black Labrador chained to a tree in the driveway.
The Labrador was very skinny, malnourished and its rib cage was visible.
Police talked to Aaron Martin Peters, one of the owners of the animals.
The other owner of the animals was identified as Crooker.
At the residence, Tessitore located five additional dogs in the backyard, all of whom were very skinny, and there was no sight of any food bowls.
One dog was observed urinating blood while police were on scene.
On Sept. 20, trooper Shaun Flynn made application for a search warrant, which resulted in the seizure of seven dogs and one rabbit.
The animals were taken into the care of Camp Papillon in Stroudsburg.
On Oct. 12, a copy of veterinarian records from the Pocono Peak Veterinary Center showed that one dog had to be put down due to cancer and rocks located in its stomach.
The remaining six dogs were found to have flea infestation, Lyme disease, no vaccinations and the majority were underweight for their breed.
Tessitore spoke with an employee of Camp Papillon, who said the dogs were not being fed adequate food or water, and the shelters were overfilled with feces.
The employee said that the dogs had to be groomed due to dirty, matted hair, and the rabbit had overgrown, curled nails from neglected care as well.
Crooker was charged and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Nov. 30 before District Judge Colleen Mancuso of Brodheadsville.
