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A man who had no electricity or running water in his home is now in jail for animal cruelty since multiple cats were living in unsanitary conditions.
“We received complaints from some neighbors,” Wendy A. Marano, Pennsylvania Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ communications manager, said. “We went down there a couple times to get in, and they wouldn’t let us in.”
Officers’ sense of smell and sight led authorities to receive a search warrant Friday. Upon their entrance, animals scattered, resulting in six live cats being rescued, three cats found dead and a possum located in the house, along with Leonardo Vianale, 52, who purchased the property for $1 Nov. 5, 2012, according to property records, and an uncharged companion.
Vianale was arrested and charged with nine counts of animal cruelty, according to court records. His $5,00 bail had not been posted as of press time.
More charges could follow after forensic testing determines what else was living there.
“We don’t know how many animals exactly because there were piles of bones,” Marano said. “We don’t know if they are all cats or dogs or what they were.”
The state of the building was in poor shape, with holes in the ceiling and roof and human and animal waste throughout.
Humane law enforcement officers will revisit the site again to see if any other animals have returned, but will not be able to enter the building.
“On June 26, L&I inspectors inspected the property and declared it to be imminently dangerous, due to structural issues, and unfit for habitation, due to electrical hazards and drainage violations,” Rebecca Corcoran Swanson, a department spokesperson, said.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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