LETTERKENNY TOWNSHIP – It was only when George Statler fulfilled a pit bull called Duke that his life transformed.
He loved dogs, but it was that dog, who would start a bottle of Gatorade and could give him kisses on the cheek during walks in the woods, which Statler dedicated his life.
dogs. The previous dogs who dropped their owners. The dogs who had to move.
Currently 84, Statler runs the Mountainside Pet Rescue on the 7700 block of Upper Horse Valley Road at Letterkenny Township, and in his 30 decades of running a dog rescue, he also said he has never had a breach. Until now.
Dog rescue owner defends himself against charges
“I was good for all them years,” he explained, looking around his pet rescue, filled with barking, jumping and running dogs supporting fenced-in enclosures, wondering what led to the 10 summary animal cruelty offenses the Pennsylvania State Police have filed against him.
Statler is set to get a court hearing on Nov. 1. Though he admits that the offenses are legitimate, he said he is still, and has repaired most of them in the process of fixing the others, and shouldn’t have been charged.
He added all those offenses are recent incidents he has faced cleanup following a fire which place him and killed five of his dogs.
Animal rescue owner facing charges reveals dogs round his house
Pennsylvania State Police spokesman Trooper Brent Miller said when troopers along with the state dog wardens obtained a tip of conditions at the 26, that it started. Through there have been 91 dogs planted together with a pig and two donkeys, at Mountainside. The violations stem from a number of neurological conditions at the rescue which comprise:
- Hot water bowls,
- Rusted fences,
- A bed with springs sticking out,
- A heavily-soiled floor in a basement place below a trailer where dogs have access,
- Torn-up dog beds.
Furthermore, veterinary tests were ordered for 19 of the dogs as well as one donkey, Miller said.
Statler, nevertheless, argues that stricter inspections after the enactment of Libre’s Legislation also resulted in his offenses. He explained he hadn’t ever been mentioned until supervisors started coming together with inspectors, whom he says now appear to have not been properly doing their tasks.
“It appears they chose me to start with,” he explained.
Department of Agriculture officials were not immediately available to address this claim.
As he recovers from the fire, Statler bears the scars of skin grafts and still walks with a limp. Along with the rescue is currently still recovering and a bit at one time, he’s cleaning up, he explained.
Mountainside Pet Rescue owner is fixing violations that led to animal cruelty citations
“I’m agreeing it took time to get it repaired,” he explained. “Many of those deficiencies that they found are being straightened out.”
However, the charges of being violation-free after all these years are what makes to him.
“It still breaks my heart that they’re ruining my reputation,” he explained.
Since he’s a lifetime lover of dogs, he’s upset about it. When he thinks about Duke and it upsets him.
Statler visits his old friend’s grave every day, and takes comfort there.
And for his new friends at the rescue, he also said he is doing his very best to make certain that they are healthy, safe and happy and there aren’t any offenses.
Dog-rescue owner visits the grave of the dog who changes his entire life