Chesco Couple Pleads Guilty To Hanging Dogs, Burning Their Bodies

PARKESBURG, PA -- A Chester County couple has pleaded guilty to multiple charges in connection with an incident in which two dogs were brutally slain.

The incident occurred earlier this year and Elizabeth Stoltzfus and John Stolztfus were arrested and charged back in May.

Elizabeth Stoltzfus pleaded guilty to Dog Law violations, including failure to keep a kennel in a humane condition, and failure to to notify the Bureau of Dog Law of euthanasia. She was sentenced to prohibition of animals for two years.

John Stoltzfus, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to killing and torturing the dogs under the animal cruelty law. He is not allowed to own an animal for 10 years.

“This case involved especially heinous acts of animal cruelty, including the intentionally torturous deaths of two dogs,” Nicole Wilson, Director Humane Law Enforcement at the Pennsylvania SPCA, said in a statement. “While we can never undo this damage, we can take some solace in knowing this couple will not own animals for a very long time.”

The two female dogs, a Bichon dog and a Golden-doodle, were beaten and then hung, before being burned, the Pennsylvania SPCA's Law Enforcement Team said.

The dogs suffered from brucellosis, an infectious disease that can be passed from animals to humans.

According to the PSCPCA, the incident occurred just weeks before the passage of a new law that would've made the crimes a felony.

Two adult female goldendoodles - Connie and Cathy - were rescued from the scene of the crimes and are recovering. To learn more and to donate to their well-being, see here.

If you have any information on an animal cruelty case, call PSPCA's Cruelty Hotline at 866-601-7722.

Patch file photo