Animal cruelty charges filed against Monessen couple

A Monessen couple is being charged with harming their 4-month-old brown/ chocolate lab after a picture of the dog was sent to police.

Phillip Martin Murphy Jr., 43, and his wife, Kaitlyn Marie Eyler, 28, were each charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, neglect of animals – sustenance/water and neglect of animals – vet care after an alleged incident Sunday, court records state.

According to the criminal complaint, officers arrived at 416 Motheral Ave., but they left when Murphy did not answer the door.

Police were called back to the home because Murphy was out of town and wanted to know why police were at his residence, according to the criminal complaint. Murphy was asked if there were any dogs inside and said there was a red-nose pitbull.

However, police contacted the caller, who emailed a picture of a brown/chocolate lab sitting on the front steps of the house, court records state, with a red collar and a light green leash. The dog appeared to be “skinny and extremely malnourished” with a thin tail, and the dog’s ribs and back/hip bones could be seen.

According to court records, Who Rescued Who Humane Society in Clairton was contacted, and the organization stated the dog looked emaciated and not taken care of. They recommended giving the owner 48 hours to take the dog to the vet, and if not, they would have to surrender the dog to the Humane Society.

Officers went back to the house, according to the criminal complaint, and found the dog from the photograph they received. Eyler stated that they got the dog at 6 weeks old and took it to the vet shortly afterward, but she didn’t remember when.

Eyler said it was Pet Care Wellness Center in Belle Vernon, where the dog got all its shots, according to court documents. She also stated that they give the dog “adult food,” it eats a good amount and “it won’t go hungry.”

According to the criminal complaint, Murphy was contacted via phone and the couple was told by police that they had 48 hours to bring their dog to the vet and they needed to show the proper paperwork afterwards. Murphy stated he could not afford to do that and said he would rather relinquish the dog to police/ animal control.

Animal control went to the house and Eyler filled out the paperwork to surrender the dog. The dog was given to Who Rescued Who, which took the lab to Dravosburg Veterinary Hospital, according to the criminal complaint.

The veterinary notes stated the dog was underweight due to poor nutrition, had refeeding syndrome and has abdominal distention with parasites due to poor nutrition. It also has a body score of 3/9, which means ribs, pelvis and backbone palpated with a severe waistline and tummy tuck.

Medicine was given for the parasites along with a rabies vaccine, court records state. The couple were unable to provide any documentation of a vet visit, rabies or any vaccinations or license for the dog.

A preliminary hearing has not yet been set for Murphy or Eyler.