Couple charged after 11 animals found ‘living in filth’ in Beaver Falls

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — The Beaver County Humane Society said if it wasn’t for one of the dogs jumping from the window and running through the neighborhood, the animals would still be living in filth.

“People don’t know what animals are thinking, but yeah, she saved her babies,” said Susan Salyards with the Humane Society.

Salyards tears up talking to Channel 11 about the animals that came out of the Beaver Falls home Tuesday night.

“It’s heart-wrenching. Our humane officers are heroes; they truly are,” Salyard said.

The Humane Society got the call from Beaver Falls police that a dog was running through the neighborhood. Once captured, they were led back to 18th Street, where dogs were climbing out the windows.

“It’s terrible. They were living in filth, (with) flies and food all over the floor. It was obvious it was a situation that doesn’t just happen overnight,” Salyards said.

According to the criminal complaint, the floor was coated in feces, and you could smell it from the street. Officers said upstairs, there were decaying bodies of cats, ducks and chickens in a room with two decapitated cat heads, plus a dead dog in a kennel.

“Our humane officers found 11 animals. There was seven dogs, three puppies and one ferret. There was also some carcasses and remains of animals as well,” Salyards said.

Now, Brittany Sanner and Essence Jackson are charged in the case. The couple is currently behind bars, charged with multiple felonies including aggravated cruelty to animals as well as misdemeanor animal abuse charges.

Both are in the Beaver County Jail on a $750,000 bond.

The rescued dogs were dehydrated and are being treated at the Humane Society. Once they are cleared medically, they will be put up for adoption.

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