District attorney sets up email tipline for reporting animal cruelty cases in Lancaster County

Reports of animal abuse in Lancaster County can now be sent directly to the district attorney's office via an email tipline.

Anyone who sees evidence of animal cruelty is asked to send details on the situation to AnimalAbuse@co.lancaster.pa.us.

The new avenue for filing cruelty reports comes after Lancaster County President Judge Dennis Reinaker on Wednesday signed an order vacating Susan P. Martin's appointment as a humane society police officer.

Martin, the executive director of the Lancaster County SPCA, came under fire recently for refusing to file cruelty charges against the owner of Libre, a dying puppy rescued from a southern Lancaster County farm.

District Attorney Craig Stedman, who previously announced plans to suspend Martin from the post, said he would reveal further evidence of her "substandard" conduct at a hearing on Monday. The hearing was canceled after Martin agreed to step down -- preventing additional evidence from being released to the public.

The order signed by Reinaker states that Martin "knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily agreed to the revocation of her powers and authority." In defending her decision, Martin cited the financial burden of the job.

For the immediate future, Stedman said, state and municipal police will investigate animal-cruelty cases in their jurisdictions. County Detective Joanne Resh will serve as the lead contact for enforcement issues, he said.

The district attorney's office is developing a countywide training program for officers who will be involved in cruelty investigations, Stedman said.