A Parkesburg, Chester County, PA couple, John and Elizabeth (Betty) Stoltzfus, plead guilty to killing and torturing two dogs– a Bichon and a Golden-Doodle . They were arrested and charged in May (2018) with four counts of animal cruelty for hanging two dogs and setting their bodies on fire. The charges came after a nine month investigation by the Pennsylvania SPCA.
Elizabeth pled guilty to Dog Law violations, including failure to keep a kennel in a humane condition, and a failure to notify the Bureau of Dog Law of euthanasia. She is not allowed to have any animals for 2 years.
John pled guilty to killing and torturing the dogs and is not permitted to own an animal for 10 years.
The Stoltzfus’s were notorious for operating the puppy mill Garden Spot Puppy Haven formerly known as B & R Puppies. Their license was revoked by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement in 2017 for extremely poor conditions among other issues. It made the list of the “Horrible Hundred” worst kennels nationally in 2017.
The two dogs who were so brutally murdered were beaten, hanged and burned because they were suffering from brucellosis, an infectious but treatable disease that can be passed from animals to humans.
Dog wardens learned of the grisly acts of cruelty when they were inspecting the puppy mill in August 2017. Betty S. told the wardens John had hanged the sick dogs.
Connie, a Golden Doodle was rescued from the Stoltzfus’ courtesy of the PSPCA
During the investigation two adult female Golden-Doodles, Connie and Cathy, were rescued.
Puppy mill operators have no regard for their “product.” The actions of this couple shows they do not care about the welfare of animals. Their sentence should be that they’re not allowed to have any animals for the rest of their lives!
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer, and an unabashed animal advocate. Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals. She hosts the television show, “A Close Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” She adores her tripawd, Brody, who was a formerly abused pup who lost his leg because of cruelty inflicted upon him. If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. Like https:www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookatAnimalWelfareIssues and be sure to check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com.
Why aren’t they going to jail? Why are they allowed to have dogs again? Once a puppy mill always a puppy mill. Betty will be able to keep dogs in two yrs so what does it matter if her husband is supposed to wait to have dogs?
I said the same thing. So Betty can have dogs in two years and she lives with her husband. So they will have dogs again. Why kind of sentence is this? It’s stupid!
They should be in jail for a long time too!!
I concur with you.
I agree with what you’re saying. It doesn’t make sense to make Betty’s sentence for 2 years while John’s is 10 years. Betty will be allowed to have animals. Very, very strange.
Thanks.
They shouldn’t be allowed to have any animals EVER!! What is wrong with our judicial system when they say it’s ok for repeat abusers to have animals? Smh
Agree! NOT EVER!!!! They will repeat again! No doubts at all!
It’s definitely a head-scratcher, to say the least. It’s very wrong to allow them to have any animals ever again!
Thanks!
One of the “Horrible Hundred” worst kennels nationally in 2017.
The two dogs who were so brutally murdered were beaten, hanged and burned because they were suffering from brucellosis, an infectious but treatable disease that can be passed from animals to humans.
Why did a judge say they can have pets again? What’s wrong with judges? What’s wrong with the defendants receiving the same fate as the two dogs they viciously murdered?
An eye for an eye. Nothing else works for people like this!
I have no idea why any judge would allow these puppy mill oerators to have any animals. It’s puzzling.
The madness has to stop when it comes to this couple abusing animals. No more animals can be hurt or killed by them The judges need to see that!
Thanks for your input.
My blood is boiling. He beat them to and hanged them! Don’t EVER allow him to have pets or his wife! They will and you know it. Why kind of stupid laws do we have? Put him and his wife away!!!! They hate animals. Sick PO$
Our laws are NOT strong enough despite our new one, Libre’s Law. It still isn’t strong enough for the abuse animals endure. Without tougher penalties, animal abuse will continue as it does. There’s no real deterrent.
Thanks for your insights
What the hell is wrong with humans? They’re not humans. They’re murdering beasts! My heart breaks for these dogs. I know they won’t spend time in jail either.