Iowa woman arrested for allegedly debarking dogs in Lancaster, PSPCA says

A Doberman was among the dogs allegedly debarked by an Iowa woman in Lancaster County earlier this year, says the Pennsylvania SPCA. (Photo: Pennsylvania SPCA)

(Lancaster) — An arrest warrant has been issued for an Iowa woman who’s been accused of illegally debarking several dogs in central Pa., the Pennsylvania SPCA said through a news release on Friday evening.

Denise Felling allegedly debarked multiple dogs earlier this year in Lancaster County, the release states.

A Lancaster County woman named Anne Beiler, who is an unlicensed breeder in Quarryville, was investigated by the Humane Law Enforcement team in May after reports of an adult female husky being debarked.

An adult female Husky named Rosella was allegedly debarked by an Iowa woman in Lancaster County earlier this year, said the Pennsylvania SPCA. (Photo: Pennsylvania SPCA)

Beiler, the PSPCA said, identified Felling as the person who performed the debarking procedure on Rosella, the Husky. Felling was also identified as performing three additional procedures in the county in January.

All the dogs were signed over to the PSPCA, which says they’ve found new loving homes.

The devocalization technique is prohibited in this state unless performed by a veterinarian using anesthesia. Felling allegedly used a rod-like object to shove down the dogs’ throats multiple times.

She was formerly a licensed veterinarian in Iowa but has since had the license revoked. And she was never licensed in Pennsylvania, the PSPCA said.

The PSPCA and Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office worked together to find Felling and issue the arrest warrant. Felling is currently incarcerated in Iowa, the release said.

“We intend to get justice for these dogs who were victims of such horrific cruelty and ensure that not one more dog is subjected to such a procedure,” Nicole Wilson, the PSPCA director of Human Law Enforcement, said through the release.

If you have tips for the PSPCA about animal cruelty, call the hotline at 866-601-SPCA. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

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