Crime & Safety
Animal Cruelty Charges Filed in Cut Puppy Ears Case
The Havertown woman accused of cutting the ears of a pitbull puppy had also posted on craigslist.org advertising her dog walking services.
The Havertown woman accused of cutting the ears of a pitbull puppy dubbed "Van Gogh" has been charged with animal cruelty on Monday, according to Delaware County SPCA Director of Community Relations Justina Calgiano.
Kristina Murphy, 19, was charged with two first-degree misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and one summary count of animal cruelty, according to Calgiano.
Murphy said in a statement she found the pitbull puppy and attempted to cut "old scabs off" when she cut the dog's ear off. She then panicked and cut the other ear, she said in an October statement.
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Murphy brought "Van Gogh" to Stoney Creek Veterinary Hospital in Morton, where he received treatment and was later adopted into the family of SCVH's veterinarian Dr. Johnson, according to the Delco SPCA.
Delco SPCA Humane Society Police Officers Ron Riggle and Bill Vernon, a nearly 25-year veteran of preventing cruelty against animals in Delaware County, have been diligently working on this case for nearly one month.
"These charges are more serious than the summary offenses we usually file because the circumstances in this case called for more serious charges," Vernon said.
Murphy, who allegedly abused the puppy on Oct. 16, also had a posting on craiglist.org, advertising her services as a dog walker. The ad was still posted on the website days after she confessed to abusing the dog, however has since been removed.
Now, "beware" ads are posted on craiglists.org, warning pet owners to not hire her to care for their animals.
Murphy will be arraigned on the charges and a preliminary hearing will be scheduled by the magisterial district justice.
Delco SPCA Humane Society Police Officers Ron Riggle and Bill Vernon, a nearly 25-year veteran of preventing cruelty against animals in Delaware County, have been diligently working on this case for nearly one month.
"These charges are more serious than the summary offenses we usually file because the circumstances in this case called for more serious charges," Vernon said.
Murphy, who allegedly abused the puppy on Oct. 16, also had a posting on craiglist.org, advertising her services as a dog walker. The ad was still posted on the website days after she confessed to abusing the dog, however has since been removed.
Now, "beware" ads are posted on craiglists.org, warning pet owners to not hire her to care for their animals.
Murphy will be arraigned on the charges and a preliminary hearing will be scheduled by the magisterial district justice.
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