Dead dog discovery leads to 30 year animal ban for Pennsylvania man

Authorities say 10 dogs were rescued from a Lancaster Township property where one animal was already dead and another later lost a leg due to severe injuries

Lancaster Township, PA — A Lancaster Township man has been sentenced to jail and prohibited from owning animals for the next 30 years after admitting to neglecting multiple dogs found living in conditions that investigators described as dangerous and unsanitary.

Osvaldo Coello-Mendoza, 54, was sentenced by Lancaster County Judge Todd Brown to three to 23 months in county jail followed by four years of probation after pleading guilty June 4 to two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, six counts of cruelty to animals and 13 counts of neglect of animals.

According to prosecutors, Coello-Mendoza failed to provide adequate shelter, water and veterinary care for dogs kept at his residence in the 1000 block of Sterling Place.

Police and the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recovered 10 dogs from the property on April 30 after receiving reports of dogs fighting in the backyard and information that one animal had died.

When investigators arrived, one dog was already dead.

A necropsy later determined the dog suffered severe trauma, had numerous bite wounds and may have been scavenged after its death.

Authorities said many of the surviving dogs had bite wounds and injuries consistent with fighting other dogs. Investigators also found evidence of parasites and other health conditions affecting the animals.

One dog’s injuries were so severe that its leg ultimately had to be amputated.

Seven of the dogs, including the deceased animal, were found in a yard covered with urine and feces and without access to water or shelter, according to court records.

Investigators also discovered two dogs living inside makeshift kennels constructed with chicken wire. One of those dogs had wet, matted fur after lying on a floor covered in vomit.

Authorities learned Coello-Mendoza had left for a trip to Cuba earlier on the day investigators responded to the residence.

A neighbor told police she had previously witnessed dogs fighting at the property and had observed one of the animals lying dead.

Assistant District Attorney Sarah Hansen prosecuted the case. The investigation was led by Lancaster Township Police Detective Josh Whiteside and Pennsylvania SPCA Lieutenant Jennifer Nields.

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Key Points

• A Lancaster Township man was sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple animal cruelty and neglect charges.
• Investigators recovered 10 dogs, including one that was dead and another that later required leg amputation.
• The defendant was sentenced to three to 23 months in jail and banned from owning animals for 30 years.