NANTICOKE — A woman from Nanticoke was arraigned Tuesday on allegations she neglected seven dogs with one canine having emergency surgery to remove carpeting, rubber matting and a corn cob from its stomach.
Jennifer Lynn Souder, 42, was charged by Humane Officers with the SPCA of Luzerne County with 14 summary counts of neglect of animals and one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals. Souder was arraigned by District Judge Donald Whittaker of Nanticoke and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
According to the criminal complaint:
Nanticoke police contacted humane officers after several dogs escaped from Souder’s residence in the 300 block of South Chestnut Street on June 11. Police officers noticed the dogs were emaciated.
Humane officers responded to Souder’s house and spotted six dogs in a fenced-in-yard filled with garbage, debris and feces. The six dogs were described in the complaint as “under weight.”
As humane officers were at the property, Souder arrived and agreed to release the dogs including one dog that was inside the residence secured in a cage.
After the dogs were taken to the SPCA of Luzerne County in Plain Township to be evaluated and nursed, one dog — a young adult female retriever lab mix — experienced severe vomiting and unable to eat, the complaint says.
The dog was taken to an animal hospital in Wyoming County where the canine had emergency surgery.
During the surgery, the veterinarian removed a piece of carpet, rubber matting, a corn cob and the top of a pineapple from the dog’s stomach and intestines, the complaint says.
The complaint says if the items were not removed from the dog, the items would have been unlikely to pass, placing the canine in imminent risk of death.
Souder is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Luzerne County Central Court on Aug. 6.
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