HEATHER MARY FITZGERALD arrested on accusations of failing to care for sick horse who then had to be euthanized

- Pennsylvania, USA -

The Bucks County SPCA (BCSPCA) and the Springfield Township Police Department have jointly filed felony charges against 54-year-old HEATHER MARY FITZGERALD (pictured) of Coopersburg, for failure to provide veterinary care for one of her horses.

BCSPCA said in their press release that the horse, an eleven-year-old Thoroughbred gelding named Brazilliant, “...suffered painful conditions from untreated cancer that had spread throughout his body leaving him in such poor condition that equine veterinary specialists determined that immediate euthanasia was the most humane outcome to end Brazilliant’s pain.”

According to the Bucks County SPCA, Brazilliant’s situation came to light in mid-April 2026, when the agency received an email from FITZGERALD in which she described an eye injury Brazilliant sustained in July 2025, and added that she was attempting to treat on her own without seeking veterinary care.

The day after the email, BCSPCA Humane Law Enforcement Officers visited FITZGERALD’s property and were appalled to find Brazilliant in “very poor condition.”

The press release stated: “His badly damaged eye appeared to be sunken into the socket and was weeping what appeared to be a mixture of blood and pus. A large lump was visible near his mouth making it difficult to eat. He was very thin and stumbled when walking.”

Upon consulting with BCSPCA’s Shelter Veterinarian, Officers took Brazilliant to Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center Hospital in Kennett Square. Brazilliant was examined by their equine veterinary specialists who “came back with the worst possible news”, stated the release.

Sadly, Brazilliant’s eye was cancerous, and the cancer had spread to the bones in his face, down his spine, and into other parts of the body, causing neurological symptoms in his back legs.

BCSPCA explained that Brazilliant was suffering terrible pain from the cancer eating away at the bones in his face. The agency further explained: “This type of cancer is common and treatable, and with early intervention could have been kept from spreading. Left untreated, Brazilliant suffered for months and was now beyond hope for recovery.”

FITZGERALD was taken into custody on May 4, 2026, and booked into the Bucks County Prison. She was charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals causing serious bodily injury or death, one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals (torture), and one felony count of neglect of animals (vet care).

Bond was set at $150,000. FITZGERALD appeared before Judge Gary Gambardella for her arraignment and was released after posting bond.

On a separate note, as reported by BCSPCA, their Humane Law Enforcement Officers have investigated FITZGERALD in the past on multiple occasions.

In their press release, BCSPCA stated that their Humane Law Enforcement Officers investigated reports of poor conditions at FITZGERALD’s property and ordered corrections to be made in the care of her horses and dogs.

Simultaneously, FITZGERALD was repeatedly cited for allowing her dogs to run loose. In 2025, Springfield Township Police filed charges against FITZGERALD for one of her dogs who was running at large and had killed a neighbor’s cat. A hearing in that case resulted in Judge McHugh ordering FITZGERALD to rehome all of her animals within six months. However, FITZGERALD failed to comply with the order, resulting in a hearing held on May 4, 2026.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Bucks County SPCA. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

Mugshot shared from the Springfield Township Police Department.

Brazilliant’s photo shared from the Bucks County SPCA.

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