Lancaster DA charges man with animal cruelty in Libre case
Photo by Dililsburg Veterinary Center
The puppy Libre is shown in this picture posted July 19th.
(Lancaster) — The man who allegedly neglected Libre, the Boston Terrier puppy who suffered severe health issues, has been charged with animal cruelty, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s office.
Benjamin S. Stoltzfus, 33, of Quarryville, was charged Thursday with the summary offense.
Craig Stedman, Lancaster County district attorney, said in a news release that Stoltzfus was charged for “failure to provide adequate veterinarian care to Libre, who suffered severe physical distress due to that lack of care.”
Stotlzfus admitted to police that he didn’t provide care and that he left the dog in a kennel where he believed he would die, according to the release.
Charges were filed after Susan Martin, an animal cruelty officer, declined to recommend any penalty.
Stedman has also asked a judge to pull Martin’s license as an animal cruelty officer.
She is also the head of the Lancaster County SPCA and has said her investigation had to end because of a lack of pictures.
But Stedman says Martin’s investigation wasn’t professional, arguing the State Police easily found enough evidence to bring animal cruelty charges.
The woman who rescued Libre, Janine Guido of Speranza Animal Rescue, took him to Dillsburg Veterinary Center for care. There, Libre was able to recover from his ailments and began to flourish. His condition prompted outrage from around the country.
This story comes from a partnership between WITF and the York Daily Record.
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