Animal Cruelty Charges Filed Against Woman Who Kept Dogs and Cats in Deplorable Conditions in Schuylkill County

A Shamokin woman is facing numerous counts of animal cruelty after two dogs and eight cats were found malnourished and living in deplorable conditions in her Ashland apartment in May.

Court records show that police in Ashland filed charges Monday against Trisha Howard, 43. Howard previously lived at 1539 W. Centre St. in Ashland. Back on May 16, police say the building manager there called to report that he’d just evicted Howard and that her apartment was a “disaster.”

Inside, police say they found several mistreated animals living among feces and garbage that was likely piling up for months.

Two dogs were severely malnourished and in need of emergency veterinarian care. They were taken to Mountain Shadow Veterinary Hospital, Wayne Township. One of the dogs had to be euthanized. The other dog was suffering from dehydration and dental disease. It had a severe red abrasion around its neck due to being chained or tied up, police say.

Eight cats fled the apartment during the eviction process but were later rounded up and taken by a cat rescue group. The cats were also malnourished and in bad health, police say.

Police have charged Howard with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals, 10 misdemeanor counts of neglect of animals for failing to give them food and water, 10 more misdemeanor counts of neglect of animals for failing to provide veterinary care, two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, eight summary counts of cruelty to animals. 

A warrant has been issued for Howard’s arrest.

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