Williamsport, PA – A woman from Lycoming County, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals after abandoning a male German shepherd in frigid conditions. Miranda Nicole Waldman, 25, entered the plea in court and is set to be sentenced on April 9. As part of the plea agreement, she is required to pay restitution and is prohibited from having animals while on probation.
The plea agreement also leaves the length of probation to the discretion of Judge Ryan M. Tira and stipulates that the sentence includes restitution. Due to the felony charge, the dog, named Junior, must be forfeited to the Lycoming County SPCA. The shelter has had custody of Junior and is currently in foster care, where he is reportedly doing well.
The incident occurred when Waldman abandoned the German shepherd in a cage at the back of a parking lot near a Hobby Lobby store in the Loyal Plaza shopping center in suburban Loyalsock Twp. Despite her claims, state police reported that the dog was found in frigid conditions, lying in its own feces and urine. A veterinarian at the SPCA stated that the dog was substantially underweight and malnourished, lacking the body mass necessary to protect itself from the cold.
Waldman admitted abandoning the dog, citing financial constraints as the reason for not being able to pay an SPCA surrender fee. However, the SPCA does not have a surrender fee and will assist in making arrangements for temporary quarters for the animal if the shelter is full. Charges of animal cruelty, neglect, abandonment, and failure to have the dog licensed are also to be dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Waldman remains free on $15,000 unsecured bail pending sentencing on April 9. As a result of her guilty plea, she will be prohibited from having animals while on probation and is required to pay restitution. The forfeiture of the German shepherd to the SPCA is also a condition of the plea agreement.