Bryanna L. Wagner of Bern Township has been held court on four charges related to her claiming to have found an emaciated dog and her deceased puppies along a Centre Township road May 7.
District Justice Brian K. Strand ordered Wagner, 23, held for court Tuesday on a felony count of aggravated animal cruelty causing death or severe bodily injury and three misdemeanor counts of neglect of animals, making a false report and tampering with evidence.
Wagner was arrested May 25 by Cpl. Michael Spada, animal cruelty officer for the Pennsylvania State Police.
According to court documents:
Wagner had owned the dog, whom she called Lilly and later was named Sadie by Zoe’s House Rescue, and made up the story about finding her along Belleman’s Church Road. She repeated the story in an interview with the Reading Eagle.
The rescue stepped in to find help for the dog after being contacted by Wagner and agreed to cover bills at Pet Emergency and Treatment Specialties in Lancaster, where the dog was taken May 7.
Sadie was euthanized May 11 due to complications of treating her severe infections.
A necropsy by the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Lab in Harrisburg showed a diagnosis of septicemia secondary to mastitis and possibly metritis. The report also indicated the dog may have been suffering from a parvoviral infection.
During an interview with Spada, he said Wagner admitted lying about finding the dog May 7 and said she had been in possession of the dog since April 14 .
She also admitted to filing a false report with Bern police that she had found an injured dog in Mohrsville.
Wagner also removed a distinctive collar from the dog after she was taken to PETS in Lancaster, which she turned over to Spada during the interview.
Wagner was returned to Berks County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail to await further court action.