KANE — A Mount Jewett woman is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly neglecting four dogs, causing the death of one and another to be euthanized.
Carolyn Brown, 55, of 4 Boyd St., is charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty — causing serious injury or death, third-degree felonies; four counts of neglect of animals — veterinary care, third-degree misdemeanors; and four counts of failing to license dogs.
On Aug. 25, Lewis Run-based state police were dispatched to Pine Haven Veterinarian Clinic for a report of a neglected dog that had been brought in. Staff said the dog had “thousands of fleas on its body and in its eyes,” and the staff wasn’t sure the dog would survive the night. The dog was brought in by the owner’s neighbor, who said there were more dogs in the house, according to the criminal complaint.
The neighbor spoke to police, saying the dog’s owner called him that morning to say she thought her dog was sick, and she was going to work. The neighbor said he went over to find the dog, and had to move trash to get to it. After finding the dog, the neighbor took it to the clinic for treatment. He said the owner was Brown and that more dogs were in the house, with one dragging its back legs. He added there was no hot water in the house, the complaint stated.
Police attempted to reach Brown, but were unable to do so.
On Aug. 26, police were notified the dog in the vet’s care had died. The vet said the dog had a whipworm infestation and its digestive system was severely impacted with hair, the complaint alleged.
On Aug. 27, police spoke to Brown, who said one dog had died a few weeks before. Another dog, a husky, had an injury to its back legs, but she couldn’t afford medical care for the animals. She said none of her animals were licensed and none had been to the vet. She took the animals to the backyard so the trooper could see them, and agreed to sign the animals over to the McKean County SPCA, the complaint stated.
On Oct. 4, the trooper spoke to the veterinary clinic where the animals had been taken. They said the husky had to be euthanized due to its severe and uncared-for injury to its back legs, the complaint read.
Brown was arraigned Thursday before District Judge David Engman and released on $5,000 unsecured bail. She is scheduled for Central Court on Thursday.
