Bedford County dog left in basement ate styrofoam to survive, owner charged

BEDFORD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Animal cruelty charges have been filed against a Bedford County man who was accused of keeping his dog in a basement for several days with little to no food or water.

Thad Knisely Sr., 38, of New Paris, was charged after state police took the dog to an animal shelter and allegedly found the dog had eaten styrofoam and other materials.

Troopers found the dog after they were sent to a home along Miller Farm Road in West Saint Clair Township on Feb. 24 for a possible burglary, according to a criminal complaint. A person at the home claimed that Kinsley had been leaving the house for days and keeping his German Shepherd locked in the basement.

Kinsley had allegedly abandoned the dog in the basement two separate times for at least five days with barely any food or water. State police searched the basement for Kinsley because he had an active warrant for his arrest.

According to the complaint, the basement was “completely ravaged” with broken glass, garbage, dog feces and urine all over the floor. Troopers noted the German Shepherd was extremely emaciated with his ribs showing.

The dog was taken from the home and sent to the Bedford County Humane Society where he was weighed in at 65lbs. When troopers checked on the dog’s condition on March 11, humane society staff said multiple sores were found on his body and unnatural materials such as styrofoam were found in his stool.

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State police noted the dog’s teeth were also “ground down” because he had been chewing on rocks in an attempt to eat something.

Kinsley is charged with one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals and three counts of animal neglect. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 1.

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