https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/one-photo-was-enough-to-decide-ailing-puppy-did-not/article_a44a2748-4876-11e6-920f-83d2a01048b2.html
TOM KNAPP | Staff Writer | July 12, 2016
A veterinarian for the Lancaster County SPCA determined that Libre, a puppy rescued last week by another animal rescue group, did not require immediate attention based on a single cellphone photo of the dog.
SPCA director Susan Martin called a press conference Tuesday to reiterate statements made in a press release Sunday, in which she defended her decision not to press charges for animal cruelty against an unidentified dog breeder in southern Lancaster County.
Although the conference was closed to the public, a dozen protesters gathered outside, several holding signs voicing displeasure with Martin's decision.
People have posted hundreds of messages to LancasterOnline and Facebook pages for LNP, the SPCA and the Speranza Animal Rescue, many calling for Martin's resignation.
Martin on Tuesday said she received a text message about the puppy's condition on July 2. She did not visit the farm in question for several days, she said, because she was home with the flu.
However, she said, she forwarded a photo of the puppy, taken by SPCA volunteer Dextin Orme, to staff veterinarian Kelly Bergman, who determined the puppy was "not in imminent danger."
"Unless the dog were in imminent danger, no officer could seize the dog without a warrant," Martin said. She did not believe the photo, she added, was sufficient cause for a warrant.
However, Martin said she asked ORCA, another rescue group, to investigate, but the officer was unable to locate the dog.
Martin said Orme again contacted her about the dog on July 4, and she encouraged him to ask the puppy's owner to surrender it.
That contradicts Orme's account; he said Monday he asked for the puppy's surrender because Martin "wasn't really stepping up to the plate."
Orme then passed the puppy to Jennifer Nields, a former animal cruelty officer, who contacted Janine Guido of Speranzo Animal Rescue. Guido took the puppy, dubbed Libre, to Dillsburg Veterinary Center for round-the-clock care.
Martin said she chose not to press charges against the breeder because reports that Libre was left for dead and maggot-infested have not been substantiated.
She said the Dillsburg veterinarian, Dr. Ivan Pryor, told her the puppy had two maggots on its skin. He called her on Monday to tell her there were more maggots in the wounds, she said, but he failed to provide photographic proof.
"I found no evidence this farmer had been neglecting this dog," Martin said.
Bergman said she knew based on Orme's photo that the puppy had demodectic mange.
"Clearly, this was a severe case," she said. But, she added, "it's typically not a life-threatening condition."
Guido said the puppy when rescued was emaciated, dehydrated and barely breathing.
Pryor said in previous reports than Libre was hours from death when he first treated the puppy. A Lancaster veterinarian, who examined Libre at the PETS emergency center, urged Guido to euthanize the pup.
On Tuesday, Guido said, Pryor upgraded Libre from critical to serious condition.
Guido was among a dozen protesters outside the SPCA during Tuesday's press conference.
Martin, acknowledging a handful of people holding signs outside the glass doors, said "people are compassionate about animals" but suggested the protesters "don't have the whole story."
She said she cannot prosecute a case against the breeder unless a veterinarian is willing to testify against him, and none so far has been willing.
Pryor could not be reached for comment Tuesday. However, Guido said he and two vet technicians from Dillsburg have said they are willing to testify about Libre's condition.
Guido also said she doesn't know why Martin is focusing specifically on the presence of maggots, rather than other signs of neglect. In fact, she said, Pryor wrote "severely neglected" in his report on the dog.
"The pictures speak for themselves," Guido said. "She is supposed to be a voice for these animals. She is not."
Laurie Yost, from the pitbull rescue group Pitties.Love.Peace, said Martin must prosecute the breeder.
"Obviously, he was left for dead," she said. "It seems like the SPCA is very eager to sidestep (the issue) and not make this person accountable."