Updated 9/24 2 am
A Morrisville women is accused of abandoning two dogs in a filth riddled apartment to starve and suffer.
Jaylah Hayes, 20 of Morrisville, has been charged with two counts of cruelty to animals, two counts of animal neglect, two summary offenses for neglect of animals, two summary offenses for abandoning two dogs one the mother, the second her puppy for weeks, until Bucks County SPCA and Morrisville Brough Police rescued the canines.
According to the criminal complaint, Corpora Lew Halas called Humane Society authorities on August 28 just before 6 p.m. to report he was at a 100 block of a N. Delmorr Avenue apartment for a report of two dogs abandoned in a apartment. Halas said, through investigation it was learned the dogs’ owner was last seen at the apartment nine days ago on August 19. Halas told Humane Society Police officer Nicole Thompson he could see the dogs in the apartment and reported one appeared to have an ongoing medical condition with its skin and appeared to be very skinny. Feces was observed blanketing the floors, however, there was no food or water available for the dogs to eat and drink. Halas remedied that by providing each dog with food and water through an opening in a apartment window. Both dogs ate hungrily and drank thirstily Halas told Thompson there were electric and water shut off notices posted to the front door of the apartment.
Halas followed up the next day at the apartment noting there was no change in the situation and requested a search warrant which was approved and then served just after 2 pm that same day with Thompson.
When entering the feces filled apartment the two dogs greeted authorities happily, according to court records. One dog had a red rash on her under belly, looked to be very skinny, had diarrhea and long nails, The second dog was a tan and white colored female puppy who was emaciated, where bones could easily be seen protruding in areas such as the rib cage, hips, and spinal area. The puppy also had patches of hair missing, had an odor that is associated with an infection of some sort, diarrhea and long nails, investigators wrote in court papers.
The apartment was described as an absolute disgusting mess with flies everywhere, piles of diarrhea in every room, except for what appeared to be a bedroom that was left locked. The windowsill appeared to have been eaten by the dogs, according to both investigators
Each dog was examined by a Bucks County SPCA Veterinarian who found the older of the two dogs to be underweight with a skin infection on her belly. She was placed on a feeding program for weight increase and provided medication The tan and white puppy was found to be emaciated by employing objective measuring tools such as a body condition score which is graded on a point system of 1 to 9. The pup was scored at 1.9 (skeletal). She also had irritated outer ears and was losing clumps of hair, according to the probable cause. The SPCA Veterinarian placed the almost starved to death mixed pitbull puppy on a feeding program for weight gain and provided medication to manage the other noted medical issues.
All of the conditions noted by investigating authorities are quite painful for the dogs.
Investigators said they have reached out to Hayes a number of times unsuccessfully. Nor has she reached out to Morrisville Police or the Bucks County SPCA to look for her dogs or report them missing. Neighbors living in the building said the last time they heard or saw anyone in the apartment was on or around August 19.
Hayes has been summoned to appear in court by mail, it appears, from online court records, since authorities were not able to reach her. Current court records indicate she is expected to appear in Morrisville District Court on October 29 in front of Judge Corryn L. Kronnagel to answer to the charges.
Editor’s Note: Lower Bucks Source contacted the Humane Society overnight to check in on the progress of both dogs. The story will be updated if any new information comes in.