Man on drugs charged with stabbing dog

A pit bull that was in critical condition after being stabbed by a Palmerton man who was under the influence of heroin is back home with her owner.

Palmerton Police Department posted on its Facebook page that they were advised by the veterinarian who treated Rosie, a 1-year-old pit mix, that she was just a few minutes from death due to blood loss.

“Fortunately, the staff at Valley Central were able to stabilize Rosie and close the roughly 5-inch wound,” the department said.

“Despite her ordeal, Rosie has not lost faith in humans, and she remains friendly and affectionate.”

The dog was released to her owner Wednesday night.

Trevor Strohl, 35, of Lehigh Avenue, has been charged with cruelty to animals in the incident.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by officer Timothy Kromer of the Palmerton Borough Police Department:

At 11:21 a.m. Saturday, Kromer, along with patrolmen Adam Shimer and Shawn Leadbetter were dispatched to the 200 block of Lehigh Avenue for a report that Strohl had stabbed a dog with a knife inside the residence and “was flipping out.”

Officers knocked on the door, and saw a man attempting to put direct pressure on the dog’s wound.

The dog, a gray pit bull, had a stab wound to the back of its neck and it was bleeding profusely.

A woman inside the residence said that Strohl had fled.

The man said that the dog’s owner was not at home.

Leadbetter rendered aid to the dog while Kromer obtained an address for the nearest emergency animal hospital.

Leadbetter transported the dog to Valley Central Animal Hospital in Whitehall, as Kromer began to search the area for Strohl.

Strohl was taken into custody in the 300 block of Alley E.

Officers recovered a black knife in a sheath and a hypodermic needle which Strohl said was used for injecting heroin.

Kromer also saw that Strohl had blood on his hands, which he later said was from the dog.

Strohl was observed to be under the influence of narcotics, as he was lethargic, slow to comprehend and answer questions, and appeared to be disoriented.

He was taken to the police station.

The woman told police she heard the dog crying and ran into the room and saw Strohl on top of the dog.

He then released the dog and they saw that it was bleeding.

The woman said she yelled at Strohl, asking what he did, and he said, “I thought someone told me to kill the dog.”

The woman said she began yelling and Strohl ran away.

Strohl faces charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, cruelty to animals, possession of drug paraphernalia, possessing instruments of crime, and public drunkenness.

He is currently incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $75,000, 10 percent bail, and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 9:45 a.m. Feb. 13, before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton.