Lancaster man accused of animal cruelty after dog found dead and others injured waives hearing
Lancaster Township, PA – A Lancaster Township man charged with the severe neglect of multiple dogs—one found dead and another requiring leg amputation—has waived his preliminary hearing, allowing the case to move forward in county court.
Osvaldo Coello-Mendoza, 53, is facing two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, six counts of cruelty to animals, and 13 counts of animal neglect. The charges stem from a disturbing discovery on April 30, when authorities recovered 10 dogs from Coello-Mendoza’s property in the 1000 block of Sterling Place.
Officials from Lancaster Township Police and the Pennsylvania SPCA responded to reports of dogs fighting in the backyard. When they arrived, one dog was already dead, and others were found in various states of neglect and injury. Investigators said Coello-Mendoza had left for a trip to Cuba earlier that day.
A necropsy on the deceased dog revealed it died from severe trauma, had multiple bite wounds, and may have been partially scavenged post-mortem. Several surviving dogs displayed similar bite wounds and injuries consistent with prolonged fighting. One dog was in such critical condition that its leg had to be amputated.
Seven of the dogs were found outdoors in a yard covered in feces and urine, without water or shelter. Two others were discovered confined in makeshift chicken-wire kennels. Another dog was found lying on a vomit-soaked floor with wet, matted fur.
One resident at the property told investigators that Coello-Mendoza had left earlier that morning for Cuba. A neighbor reported previous sightings of dog fights and had seen the deceased animal before authorities arrived.
Following an earlier attempt to flee from a scheduled court appearance, Judge Mary Sponaugle imposed a $50,000 monetary bail on Coello-Mendoza, replacing a prior unsecured bail arrangement. He has since posted bail and remains free pending further proceedings.
The case is being handled by Lancaster Township Detective Josh Whiteside and Pennsylvania SPCA Lieutenant Jennifer Nields. Coello-Mendoza is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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Key Points
- Ten dogs were recovered from a Lancaster Township home; one was dead, and another required amputation.
- The homeowner, Osvaldo Coello-Mendoza, allegedly left for Cuba while the animals suffered in unsanitary, dangerous conditions.
- Coello-Mendoza waived his preliminary hearing and is free on $50,000 bail after initially fleeing court.