BEDFORD — All charges against a Claysburg man accused of aggravating animal cruelty in connection with the condition of four dogs have gone to court.
Allen Wayne Wayant, 63, has four felony charges for aggravating animal cruelty, plus four counts for animal cruelty, neglect of animal feed and water, and animal shelter neglect. Faced with two misdemeanors and two misdemeanors for failing to care for an animal. , four summary charges of failing to provide evidence of rabies vaccination and summary charges of dog license/fees.
Unable to post $50,000 bail, he was remanded to Bedford County Correctional Facility.
The ruling was handed down at Wednesday’s preliminary hearing in Weyant after District Judge Kathy Calhoun heard testimony from Pennsylvania State Police officer Colton Wassell and Central Pennsylvania Humane Society police officer Paul Gottshall. did not testify for himself.
Asked to testify by Bedford County District Attorney Leslie Childers Potts, Wassell said that when he and other officers arrived at 667 Beaverdam Road, a dog emerged from a three-sided chain-link structure. He said he barked. “very hoarse bark” another ‘It didn’t look alive’
“The muscle structure was not there.” Wassell added that the dog raised its head to look at him.
The smell of urine inside the structure “very strong” Dirt and feces were found in the dog’s food and water bowls, Wassell said.
The dogs were turned over to the Bedford County Humane Society, where Wassell helped bathe the dogs and said one had an open wound and all had fleas.
Wassell said he couldn’t say when Weyant asked when the dogs had food and water. “Thank you for your help at the end.”
When questioned about providing the dog with adequate shelter from the elements, Wyant told Wassell that he tried to bring the dog home when he was young, but “They didn’t like the inside.” Wassell said.
While on the scene, Wassell enlisted the help of Gottshall, a Humane Society police officer for 26 years.
“They were very thin. Very, very thin.” Gottshall spoke of dogs. “One person could hardly move.”
gottshal is the dog ‘In the midst of hunger’ It showed signs of dehydration, such as red eyes and pale gums. Gotshall, in his experience, dogs can start to show signs of dehydration after 24 hours of his life, and Weyant’s dogs “More than 48 hours without drinking water”
During the investigation, Wassell found only three of the four dogs were properly registered, and Wayant said he was unable to provide vaccination records.
During cross-examination, court-appointed defense attorney Karen Hendershott asked Wassell about the address listed on the Greenfield Township Police search warrant.
Wassell said 267 Pierce Lane was listed as a residence on both the search warrant and Wayant’s driver’s license. But Greenfield police took Wassell to 667 Beaverdam Road, he said.
When questioned why the cops didn’t try to find the actual owners of the house and dog, Wassell said that Wyant’s father owned the house and when he died, Wayant’s brothers owned the property. was said to have become the executor of
Weyant himself told police he lived at 667 Beaverdam Road and the four dogs belonged to him, Wassell said.
In closing arguments, Hendershot argued that the prosecution had not definitively proven property or dog ownership, and that Wassell was taken to the wrong residence.
“I don’t know who had the duty of care.” Hendershot said. “That’s the problem with all these charges.”
Hendershot also said that officers did not record that Wayant was read and acknowledged Miranda’s rights, so any statement made by Wayant should not be admissible in court.
However, Childers-Potts argued that property ownership was irrelevant and Weyant “It shows that he lived there and had a dog.”
“He approached the dog to take care of it.” Childers Potts said.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is 814-946-7458.