Lower Bucks Co. Man Skinned Cat Alive: Police

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA —A Bucks County man has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals regarding an incident last week, police said.

Richard Swangler, 56 of Bristol, is accused of causing severe facial injuries to a small black cat including a complete degloving of the lower chin/mandible, police said.

He has been living in West Hempfield Township in Lancaster County for the past several months, authorities said.

The West Hempfield Township Police Department was dispatched to a West Broad Street home in the early morning hours of March 3 for a man reporting a wild animal, which he believed to be a jaguar, inside his home.

Responding officers found Swangler inside the home with scratch and bite marks on his arms but no wild animal was located.

A further search of the home revealed the injured cat, who was transported to PETS emergency center where surgical care was given.

The Organization for Responsible Care of Animals (ORCA) transported the cat and is now monitoring recovery. The cat is expected to make a full recovery.

Swangler was taken into custody for outstanding probation violation warrants and the aggravated animal cruelty charge was filed before Magisterial District Judge Miles Bixler.

Swangler was arraigned on the charges and bail was set at $15,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Swangler remains in Lancaster County Prison.