News

January 23, 2009

Alleged kitten piercers charged

Local pair faces six counts of cruelty to animals, three counts of criminal conspiracy.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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SHICKSHINNY – Two people who allegedly pierced three kittens that they marketed as “gothic kittens” on Web sites are facing animal cruelty charges.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Luzerne County filed six counts of cruelty to animals and three counts of criminal conspiracy against Holly Crawford, 34, of Dobson Road, Ross Township, and William Blansett, age unknown, of Sweet Valley, on Tuesday. The charges were filed with District Judge John Hasay in Shickshinny and mailed to Crawford and Blansett.

Humane officers with assistance from the state police at Shickshinny executed a search warrant at Crawford’s home, where they seized the kittens with ear, neck and tail piercings on Dec. 17. At least one of the kittens had a submission ring on its tail to prevent blood flow, resulting in its tail to fall off in time.

Cindy Stark, with the county SPCA, said Wednesday that the kittens are doing well, and are being held as evidence.

“The kittens are part of an animal cruelty case; they’re evidence and have to be held until the end of this, including the appellate process,” Stark said.

Humane officer Carol Morrison said the kittens were being advertised as “gothic kittens” on the Internet auction site eBay, and being sold on a pet classified Web site, which included an attached picture of a pierced kitten. The sites have since been taken down.

“We’re certainly thrilled that charges have been filed; our people are on stand-by to testify,” said Daphna Nachminovitch, vice president of cruelty of investigations for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, based in Norfolk, Va.

Nachminovitch said a person from another state contacted PETA in December after seeing the pierced kittens on eBay. Two PETA investigators contacted Crawford and Blansett and arranged to see the pierced kittens, Nachminovitch said.

“We got in touch with the SPCA as soon as we could and we sent someone to (Crawford’s) home to verify that the kittens were pierced and were on eBay,” Nachminovitch said. “The person that went to the home obtained probable cause for the search warrant.”

Crawford and Blansett couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday.

The charges that were filed involved the kittens, not a dog that was found in Crawford’s home with pierced ears, Stark said.

“It’s stunning, someone who is capable of doing this to kittens, she also pierced her own dog,” Nachminovitch said. “They were trying to make a profit on these kittens.”

Crawford operates a pet-grooming business called Pawside Parlor in the basement of her home. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, pet-grooming businesses don’t need a license from the department unless they keep the animal overnight.

Preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled on Feb. 17.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.

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