KELLY GEBHARDT and DONALD PODCZERWINSKI charged after animals found dead and malnourished in a barn
- voiceforus
- Apr 13, 2022
- 3 min read
- Pennsylvania, USA -
Back in March 2021, an officer with the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh investigated a complaint about horses in a barn on Deer Creek Road in Gibsonia living in neglect.
According to TRIBLIVE, investigators said a man who frequently did work on the property noticed a number of horses who were thin, had overgrown hooves, and were living in unsanitary conditions. Thankfully, the man then alerted a humane officer.
Authorities have identified 52-years-old KELLY GEBHARDT (pictured), of the 900 block of Deer Creek Road, and 64-years-old DONALD PODCZERWINSKI, of the 300 block of Bairdford Road, as the horses’ guardians.
The complainant told the humane officer that GEBHARDT asked him to shoot one of the sick horses and when he went to the property, he discovered that someone had already shot the poor animal three times in the face and head.
The man said another horse on the property was so sick that he/she was unable to get up and was “left to die” instead of being treated by a vet.
According to the complainant, GEBHARDT also asked him to move the deceased horse outside the barn where two other dead horses were and were waiting to be buried.
On March 16, 2021, the humane officer went to the property and saw a number of horses in stalls without access to food and water. The poor souls were “thin with ribs, spine and hip bones visible” and were standing in about 2 feet of manure-saturated straw.
The officer also reported that about 25 horses were found roaming in a large riding area with 3 to 4-foot piles of manure scattered around. These horses showed signs of severe malnutrition and neglect.
A mare and her foal also were found in a penned-in area without food and water.
In another part of the barn the officer found 5 horses, 2 donkeys, and a miniature horse in stalls that had no food or water. One of the donkey’s hooves was so overgrown and curling that the animal was unable to stand.
GEBHARDT was given 48 hours to clean the stall, have the animals examined by a veterinarian, and get their hooves trimmed by a farrier.
PODCZERWINSKI was informed about the violations and the orders to correct them, and his reaction was: “we will just shoot all the animals then.”
When the humane officer returned to the property after several days to check that GEBHARDT had complied with the directive, he noticed that only one of the stalls had been cleaned. At that point he informed GEBHARDT that he was going to get a search warrant and GEBHARDT ordered him off the property.
The search warrant was executed on March 25, 2021, by humane officers and West Deer Police.
According to the complaint, the only change they observed was that PODCZERWINSKI was feeding the animals.
Authorities confiscated 47 animals, including 43 horses, 2 donkeys, 1 miniature horse, and 1 pig. An alpaca remains on the property because authorities were unable to catch him/her.
Sadly, three dead horses were found on the property and two horses and a donkey had to be euthanized on the scene because they were in such poor condition.
A veterinarian who examined the horses said most of them were suffering from starvation, and some of them were infected with internal parasites. The overgrown hooves caused infections in some of the animals, and 44 had dental issues causing pain that prevented them from chewing properly.
Four of the horses removed had to be euthanized because of the severity of their medical conditions.
PODCZERWINSKI is now facing 298 criminal charges while GEBHARDT was charged with 304 criminal charges.
The charges include neglect of animals from vet care to shelter and protection, plus aggravated cruelty of animals resulting in death.
PODCZERWINSKI will face District Judge Tom Swan at his preliminary hearing on May 18, 2022.
GEBHARDT will face the same judge on June 15, 2022.
Channel 11 reports that they reached out to GEBHARDT’s attorney, but he said he has no comment until his client’s preliminary hearing.
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Some of the pictures have been shared from Rory Ridge Rescue Inc
Additional Sources:
Neglect is abuse! To allow horses & donkeys, hell, any animal to starve to death is disgusting & punishment should result automatically in a sentence prison. The abusers should have to remain in jail for as long as the animal(s) suffered x10! Then they must be held financially responsible for all fees incurred whilst healing. RIP PRECIOUS SOULS, please get better all Survivors.