A Pennsylvania couple is facing a multitude of serious charges — including child endangerment and animal cruelty — after authorities discovered a 14-year-old boy and 77 unkempt animals living in deplorable conditions in their Penn Township home.
James Chaney, 52, and Kathleen Chaney, 59, have been charged with 22 offenses, including endangering the welfare of children and animal abuse and neglect.
Authorities executed a search warrant at the Chaney residence on August 14, accompanied by humane officers and a county children’s bureau caseworker.
The conditions inside the home shocked even veteran law enforcement officers, with overwhelming odors of feces, urine and sewage permeating the house.
Penn Township Sergeant Robert Broome, who filed the criminal complaint, stated: “It is clear these conditions have been in the residence for a long period of time.”
The rooms were reportedly covered in mold and spiderwebs, and the smell of ammonia made it challenging for investigators to inspect the property.
Cassie Wilson, a volunteer humane officer with the nonprofit rescue group All but Furgotten, was shocked by the scene, stating that no corner of the home was free from urine, feces, mold or animals.
Neighbor Bill Monstrola initially alerted authorities to the situation, describing the conditions as “pretty deplorable,” with animals left outside in harsh weather conditions.
The house apparently was without running water, and feces covered both the basement and first floors.
The rescued animals, including 46 dogs, 23 cats, five guinea pigs, a chinchilla, a dove and a ferret, are now receiving care, with some still undergoing medical treatment, and a few are available for adoption. All the animals were infested with fleas and worms, with several suffering from serious injuries, infections, overgrown nails and eye ulcers. Among the horrifying discoveries were a ruptured uterus in one dog and a needle stuck into the stomach area of another. Some neglected cats had to undergo tooth extractions, and one had a broken pelvis that did not heal properly due to a lack of treatment. Tragically, a cat died during surgery after the rescue.
In addition to the living animals, authorities found a dog, a bird, a snake and four chickens dead on the property.
The house was deemed uninhabitable and condemned after the search warrant was executed. James and Kathleen Chaney were charged with 22 offenses, but as of now, they have not been arraigned, according to court records.
“The specific conditions inside the residence were the worst I have experienced in my 15 years as a law enforcement officer and over 20 years as a first responder,” Broome wrote in court papers.
