Some animal-cruelty charges dropped
A preliminary hearing was delayed for the second time Tuesday for a Uniontown couple facing nearly 200 charges related to cruelty to animals. Tim and Joyce Swaney of 51 Bierer Ave. were each charged Dec. 18 with 68 counts of cruelty to animals, eight counts of failure to dispose of animal carcasses and 19 counts of failure to have pets vaccinated.
Fayette County Senior Judge Robert Breakiron granted the continuance to the prosecution after learning that one of two arresting officers in the case, Jamie Speelman, was unable to testify because of health problems.
The preliminary hearing has yet to be rescheduled.
According to Speelman and Officer Elizabeth Davidson, both from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, dozens of animals were found living among several carcasses of dead animal in the Swaney’s home in November.
After the house was completely searched, the officers reported finding 27 living animals, including 15 cats, four rabbits, a turtle, six ferrets and a dog. Officers also found eight dead animals in different areas of the house, including three cats, three kittens, a ferret and a bird.
Some of the dead animals were found in a freezer in the basement of the house. One cat was discovered dead underneath a mattress in the couple’s bedroom. A dead kitten also was found in an empty cat food can.
Uniontown code enforcement officer Myron Nypaver filed additional charges against Joyce Swaney last month for multiple code violations, including charges of residence unfit for human occupancy and accumulation of rubbish and garbage.