Nov 30, 2017 3 min read

A South Strabane Township woman was charged Wednesday by Washington Area Humane Society police officer with six counts of animal neglect after she allegedly failed to provide clean and sanitary shelter and drinkable water for six dogs.

The misdemeanor charges against Mary Jo Forrest, 71, of 1427 N. Main St., were approved by the Washington County District Attorney’s office and filed at the office of District Judge Jay Weller.

Humane police Officer Glen Thomson got a call Nov. 10 from a concerned person who indicated there was a medium-sized white dog in a makeshift pen in the backyard at 1427 N. Main. The caller said the house looked to be falling apart, and the vegetation where the dog was kept was very overgrown.

The caller wished to remain anonymous but is a known and trusted source of information to the officer, according to court documents.

Thomson went to Forrest’s home Nov. 13. Upon arrival, Thomson said he noticed there were several piles of garbage and debris on the porch and around the house. He was able to confirm the caller’s claims of the conditions of the pen in the backyard.

Thomson also noticed there were several broken windows in the house.

When Thomson knocked on the front door there was no immediate response. He tried to go to the back door but could not find a way to get to it. As he headed back to the front of the house, he heard a woman, later identified as Forrest, calling out to him. He identified himself as a humane police officer and told her why he was at her home.

When Thomson mentioned the dog he was called about, Forrest told him she had six dogs. She told Thomson she had four pug-type dogs, a King Charles Cavalier-type dog and Pekingese-type dog.

When Thomson asked if he could see the animals, Forrest agreed and went inside to put them on leashes. When she came back to the front porch, Thomson said he could see piles of garbage and debris in the foyer of the house.

Forrest reportedly agreed to allow him to check the living conditions for the animals. Upon entering the house, Thomson said he could smell the urine and feces from the dogs. He said there were four animal crates in the main living area of the house, and two had several piles of feces in them, as well as mold. The two other crates appeared to have been used as trash cans, Thomson said.

The charges will be sent by summons from Weller’s office. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled later.