MINERSVILLE - A 27-year-old woman is facing charges of cruelty to animals after borough police visited the home she was renting.
Police said officers were called to 449 Carbon St. to check on a report of animals being kept in inhabitable living conditions.
At the scene, police said officers tried knocking on front and back doors. No one answered but police said dogs could be heard inside barking and howling.
Looking in a back window, police said officers saw a white pit bull in a cage in the kitchen and that the inside of the property appeared to be an "absolute mess."
After several unsuccessful attempts to contact the property owner, police said April Beckford, the current tenant, was notified and advised that the SPCA would be taking the animals for their safety.
Officers eventually contacted the owner of the home, David Schaeffer, who arrived at the residence and, along with his son, tried to enter through the front and back doors but could not.
Due to exigent circumstances, Schaeffer gave officers permission to kick down a door, police said.
Officers, Schaeffer and his son entered the home through the kitchen and saw the pit bull in the cage with no food or water and excrement inside and outside the cage.
Police said the animal was clearly malnourished and its rib cage was showing due to a lack of food. Officers then found excrement in every room and clothes, furniture and trash were scattered on the floors and countertops.
A cat was found roaming freely throughout the home and another dog was locked in a second floor bedroom, police said, and the entire house stank of animal waste.
Representatives from Hillside SPCA were called and secured the two dogs and the cat and took all three animals for evaluation and treatment.
Police do not know how long the animals were living in the filthy conditions.
They said charges against Beckford will be filed with Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon. Evicted from the home, she now resides at 714 Mahantongo St., Pottsville.