A Centre County man was arraigned Wednesday on charges that accused him of abandoning his animals — including two dead lambs and a horse that had to be euthanized — for three weeks in the winter.
Levi K. Byler, 30, of Curtin Township, did not adequately provide his “extensive” amount of animals with food, water, shelter or vet care while he was in Florida, state police at Rockview wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.
Investigators launched the probe in January. One of the animals they found on Byler’s property was a pregnant, underweight 14-year-old Percheron that was euthanized, police wrote.
“I probably did not do right by her,” police quoted Byler as saying.
Other animals found on the property included two dead lambs, Rottweilers living in feces without food and water, and six horses that all appeared to be thin, police wrote.
The only food investigators found on the property was two round bales and a 20-pound bag of corn.
Byler, police wrote, did not understand the “care necessary to take care of the animals, especially in poor weather conditions.” The horses were transported in March to a farm, police wrote.
Byler said he is not yet represented by a defense lawyer. He declined comment Thursday.
He was charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals, five misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and five summary counts of animal neglect.
Byler was arraigned by District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker, who released him on $25,000 unsecured bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 17.