About 40 Animals Living In Poor Conditions Rescued From Beaver County Property

Daugherty Township (KDKA) - A Beaver County humane official said authorities seized about 40 animals from Daugherty on Friday.

Neighbors said the rescue took several hours. Currently in custody.

When Sean Twisdom returned from his run, he was surprised to see trucks and law enforcement vehicles parked along Taylor Drive.

"There was a trailer, two police cars I had to dodge and one, two, four cars parked in my driveway," Twisdom said.

He rushed to the officer, who told him what was happening.

"We bring all the animals there," Twisdom said.

In an exclusive interview with KDKA-TV, humane officer Tristan Wenzig said authorities were executing a search warrant after several animals were found in poor condition Thursday.

"There was a strong smell of faeces and urine. He just walked out the door," Wenzig said.

In the Doherty village area, he said he saw various animal droppings inside houses and barns.

"I saw a dog with a cage full of feces stuck under the cage," Wenzig said.

In total, the authorities seized about 40 animals, including eight dogs, six chinchillas, two hedgehogs, a rabbit, a donkey, an alpaca, horses and goats, some of them thin and sick.

Officers also found two dead horses, two rabbits and two or three goats in what appeared to be fires.

"Anytime you burn an animal, a dead farm animal, it's going to be a pile of trash," Wenzig said.

As for hedgehogs, they are illegal in Pennsylvania.

"You actually have to be licensed and you have to go through the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission to get that license," Wenzig said.

This could be one of the possible charges stemming from this case. Officers are still determining who they may be while veterinarians examine the animals. However, they are increasingly studying animal cruelty, animal abuse and animal neglect.

"I just don't understand how a human can live like that, how an animal can live in that situation," Wenzig said.

As for Twisdom, she has had some concerns over the years and is now optimistic that the animals will be fine.

"I feel better knowing the animals are going to be taken care of," Twisdom said.

Aid workers are expected to file a complaint early next week that could affect more people.

Wenzig said they were assisted by mental health officers, New Brighton Police, North Sewickley Police and a code enforcement officer.