Two Youngsville residents have been charged after 31 animals were seized from their home in late June.

Christine M. Vanguilder, 45, and Jason Farnham, 42, both of Youngsville, were charged Wednesday with seven third-degree felony charges related to the late June seizure: one count of each of aggravated cruelty to animals – torture and six counts each of aggravated cruelty to animals – causing serious bodily injury or death. They also each face 31 counts of third-degree misdemeanor neglect of animals – vet care and citations for application dog licenses/fees, penalties, vaccination against rabies required – proof of vaccination and unlawful to operate a kennel without a license.

They were arraigned by Magisterial District Justice Raymond Zydonik on Wednesday evening with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 12 in front of Zydonik. Bail was set at $10,000 unsecured, and both Farnham and Vanguilder were released on their own recognizance. A condition of bail is they have no ownership, contact or care of any type of animal, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania State Police.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, the State Police at Warren’s animal cruelty liaison was dispatched to Brokenstraw Township to check the welfare of animals at the home after the ANNA Shelter in Erie had received complaints about the residence having numerous dogs. The trooper said he arrived at a single-wide trailer on May 21 with a chicken wire/lattice fence along the side and was met outside by Vanguilder and Farnham, as well as the co-owner of the trailer.

“Vanguilder immediately became confrontational and argumentative,” the trooper wrote in the affidavit. “Vanguilder would not permit me inside her residence but did bring all the dogs outside for me to evaluate.”

Vanguilder and Farnham owned 14 husky/lab mixed dogs, with four of the 14 being six-week-old puppies. Vanguilder said she also owned four or five indoor/outdoor cats, two guinea pigs, a snake and two rats that her snake had refused to eat.

“Without seeing the inside of Vanguilder’s residence, this officer could not truly assess the living conditions the animals are subjected to,” the affidavit states. “Vanguilder alleges she cleans her residence daily, bleaches the floors and mops with hot water, however this officer could smell a foul odor emitting from the residence. This odor is consistent with urine/ammonia, fecal matter and unsanitary living conditions that I have prior experience responding to and dealing with over my 16 years as a PA state trooper.”

Vanguilder was told that 14 dogs in a small trailer seems excessive but is not illegal by itself unless certain aspects of animal cruelty were found. THe trooper gave Vanguilder and Farnham contact information for Paws Along the River Humane Society to potentially ask for help with dog food, spaying or neutering animals or possibly surrendering some of the animals. On May 29, Vanguilder and Farnham surrendered 15 dogs and one kitten to Paws Along the River, whose director told the trooper that there were 10 or 11 dogs that hadn’t been disclosed during the initial visit.

Another complaint was received on June 24 from a person who said two of the dogs at the trailer had recently birthed puppies and that the puppies were ill. The information came after Farnham had sent the person a Facebook Messenger request asking for a veterinarian in the area after three puppies passed away with other puppies in the litter suspected of having canine parvovirus. Later that day the trooper found a public Facebook post allegedly made by Vanguilder that said the dogs had passed away.

A search warrant was applied for and granted on June 26 and executed at 10 a.m. A total of 31 animals were seized from the trailer: 25 dogs, three cats, a guinea pig and two fancy rats. The animals were surrendered directly to Paws Along the River at the scene. On July 16, according to the affidavit, veterinarian intake paperwork was received from the Humane Society showing that of the 25 dogs, six died due to neglect of veterinary care. One female dog had to be humanely euthanized due to untreated “softball-sized” tumors on her front and rear legs. The vet also diagnosed untreated flea infestations, ear infections, overgrown nails, missing teeth/neglected dental work, dehydration, underweight, anemia, lesions, ear mites and eye discharge and infections.

County Treasurer’s Office records showed only 10 of the dogs had been licensed, and there was no proof of rabies vaccinations.