Hoarding - more than 80 animals seized
New Ringgold, PA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Apr 7, 2005
County: Schuylkill
Disposition: Not Charged
Persons of Interest:
» Percy Burkey
» Mildred Burkey
» Marlene Burkey
Nearly 80 animals were found living in filth on April 7 when sheriff's deputies went to a home in West Penn Township in Schuylkill County. The deputies had intended to take possession of the house for a bank foreclosure, but once inside they found dozens of animals- and some of the owners-living in filth.
The animals were removed from the home of Marlene Burkey and her mother, Mildred Burkey, who more than 17 years ago were charged after officials found a dead horse, 12 starving horses, four starving dogs and a mistreated ferret at their home.
Officials say feces and urine were everywhere.
One official from the Hillside SPCA in Pottsville says it's still too soon to give an exact number of the dogs and other exotic animals that were picked up.
Some of the dogs had to be put down because they were too aggressive, and some cats were euthanized because they were full of disease.
The SPCA picked up many of the animals, but didn't have room for them all, so some chickens and ducks were left behind.
Mildred Burkey says she lived in the house for 55 years and she says she loved all of the animals.
One person was cited for disorderly conduct when police showed up. There's no word yet about if, or when, animal abuse charges will be filed.
In November 1987, the Burkeys - Marlene, Mildred and Mildred's husband, Percy - each were charged with cruelty to animals after SPCA officials found the 18 dead, starving and mistreated animals at their home.
At the time, SPCA official Clayton Hulsizer described the barn in which the horses were kept as ''loaded with manure.''
One horse, he said, weighed just 500 pounds, about half what it should weigh.
In the 1987 case, the Burkeys were found guilty and fined $600 each. In the current incident, Hillside officials said they probably will not seek charges. References« PA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Schuylkill County, PA
|
