Animal Cruelty in Adams County: Neglected Dogs and Dead Cats – what Happened?

Adams County, PA – The discovery of three dead cats and two neglected dogs in an Adams County house has resulted in animal cruelty charges.

Allison Ost, 27, of Fairfield, was charged with leaving the animals imprisoned inside the home for weeks without food or water.

According to the Adams County SPCA, the animals were left for six weeks, and the two dogs, German Shepherd mixes, were underweight when police found them. According to the SPCA post, the dogs were skin and bones, and one had difficulty walking.

According to the criminal complaint, the landlord was inspecting the residence on May 2 because the water had not been turned on in a month and discovered the emaciated dogs and a dead cat when they entered.

Police arrived at the residence on Pine Hill Trail Road and spoke with Ost, who said she had been in Pittsburg for a week, but neighbors said they hadn’t seen her in weeks, according to court documents. The dogs were in the backyard and escaped while police were on the phone with Ost, but neighbors were able to assist police in locating them. Neighbors said that the canines were “extremely emaciated” as compared to previous sightings.

Police said the SPCA was contacted to care for the two emaciated canines, Mist and Teddy.

According to the criminal complaint, police entered the property through a basement door and found “a large amount” of feces and a “strong odor” of urine, as well as destroyed furniture. Employees at the SPCA believed that two of the deceased cats died from dehydration and the other from malnutrition. The cats were taken to the Pennsylvania State Vet Lab in Harrisburg for autopsy.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators discovered one empty water bottle as well as two food-filled bottles.

According to authorities, while in the custody of the SPCA, the dogs’ body scores were 1 out of 10, they were dehydrated, and one had conjunctivitis.

Ost is charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals, as well as misdemeanor cruelty to animals and neglect. Ost was released from Adams County Prison on May 3 after posting her $7,500 bail, and she now awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.