Police: West End Animal Cruelty Suspect Starved More Than 50 Animals In Cages
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh Police arrested a West End man on more than 100 counts of animal cruelty on Tuesday.
The grisly discovery was made in a home in the 1200 block of Arnold Street. More than 50 animals were found dead, some of them in cages outside the house. Many of the cages were clearly visible from the street and from several nearby homes.
Bonnie Goodnow, who lives across the street from where the animals were found, said, "I think it's sad, you know; if you can't take care of them, don't get them."
Pittsburgh Police arrested 52-year-old Dennis Safranko. He held his head down and said nothing to reporters as police escorted him from the Zone 6 Police Station.
BREAKING: Suspect in West End animal abuse case is 52 y/o, lived on Arnold Street; 33 dead chickens, 12 dead ducks pic.twitter.com/nZtQaIVuHq
— Ralph Iannotti (@IannottiRalph) April 10, 2018
Safranko's being charged with more than 110 felony counts. One count per animal for torture and another count per animal for causing death through prolonged deprivation of food and water.
The animals all died, police said, from severe neglect.
"There were 56 dead animals found on the property - 33 chickens, 18 ducks and five rabbits deceased," Pittsburgh Police Officer Christine Luffey said. "They were laying on the ground, some of them in garbage bags, some lying dead in the cages. There were no live animals found."
Meghan Schiller's Report:
When police showed up at Safranko's home Monday afternoon, they initially thought the home and property were vacant because of the horrible living conditions they saw. Almost immediately, though, they made the appalling discoveries.
"There's no excuse for animals to be treated this way; it's just horrible," Officer Luffey said. "I can't image anyone doing this. If you know an animal is being neglected or abused, please report it. These animals suffer in silence."
The investigation continues.
