HUNTINGDON – The September term of the Carroll County Grand Jury issued indictments against defendants Tara Neutzler and Donald Schoenthal, both of Atwood, who are charged with some 300 counts of animal cruelty, aggravated cruelty and two counts of child abuse, neglect and endangerment.
Of 17 pages of indictments for all defendants, nine of the pages were the charges against Neutzler and Schoenthal.
They are free on a bond of $391,994. The charges are the result of the “Noah’s Ark” animal rescue at Atwood in April of this year, which was coordinated by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington-based Animal Rescue Corps. The animals were found in dire conditions, with several found dead and in cages with live animals. The living animals found were ailing. The animals found included domesticated pets as well as farm animals and exotic animals. A dead zebra was among those animals which were found dead at the Atwood home.
While waiting for the preliminary hearing to finally be held, the Animal Rescue Corps has been financially suffering while caring for the animals, including food, shelter, veterinary care and other expenses for the 150 animals which were rescued.
Bruce Griffey, a Paris attorney, told WENK/WTPR that because of that situation, he agreed to represent the non-profit organization pro bono (for free) and to secure the bond to ensure that the group’s expenses are covered by the defendants.
Griffey said, “The bond was a critical issue not only due to the fact that Animal Rescue Corps, a non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of animals, has been financial struggling as a result of this rescue mission, but also inasmuch as these poor animals who were forced to endure torturous conditions deserve to live out the remainder of their lives in a loving home where they will be properly cared for and will be lavished with love.”
Scotlund Haisley, president and founder of Animal Rescue Corps, said all of the seized animals were either dead or in various stages of dying. ARC, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, and the Redemption Road Rescue worked to assess the status of each animal, and transport the living animals to rescue centers.
Photo: Tara Neutzler and Donald Schoenthal seated at right at a hearing earlier in August on the animal abuse charges. Paris Attorney Bruce Griffey, represented Animal Rescue Corps, is standing at podium. (Photo courtesy of Rebecca Griffey).
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