A Pennsylvania Furnace woman will serve between one and five years of in-home detention for her role in what prosecutors describe as an “appalling” animal abuse case.
Last October, Jessica Little, 42, entered an open plea after being charged with multiple counts of cruelty to animals.
The investigation began on Dec. 17, 2013 when police found four dogs and two cats living in “deplorable conditions” at a home in Pleasant Gap. The animals were reportedly in need of immediate veterinary care.
According to a news release from the Centre County District Attorney’s office, Little initially told police the animals had been left by a former tenant and that she had been caring for them for three months.
Prosecutors say some of the dogs were confined in filthy cages for over thirty days. The entire home was covered with fecal matter and trash. The dogs were forced to stand and sleep on open metal food cans and fecal matter. Officers reportedly could barely stand to stay in the home for more than 30 seconds at a time because of the overwhelming stench.
One dog reportedly died shortly after police took him to a vet’s office for care. Prosecutors say the animals had severely matted hair and some had fecal matter all over their bodies. One dog had a mass on her leg the size of an orange.
According to prosecutors, Little only stopped at the home occasionally to throw food in the cages. There was no electricity, heat, or lights and the caged dogs were kept in a dark basement with no windows.
Prosecutors say Little was living in a clean home with another dog that showed no signs of abuse. Little reportedly worked as a veterinary technician for 12 years and admitted she was aware there are no-kill shelters in the area that would have taken the animals.
Little cannot own any animals while she is under house arrest. She was also ordered to pay over $2,000 in restitution to the Pennsylvania SPCA.
In a prepared statement, Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller says, “The Defendant essentially encased these pets in a dark cold foreclosed home of horrors where they suffered for months without the light of day. The lack of humanity she showed for their basic needs and existence was appalling to everyone involved.”
Photos showing some of the animals were released by the DA’s office and appear below. The photos may be disturbing to some people.
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