More than 1,000 charges in animal abuse case

By TAYLOR BROWN, Senior Reporter

John P. Saxberg was arrested Tuesday, accused of neglecting 101 dogs and two cats at his Belle Vernon residence.

More than a month after authorities rescued over 100 neglected animals from a Belle Vernon home, their owner has been arrested on more than 1,000 animal abuse-related charges following what investigators describe as an extensive months-long investigation.

John P. Saxberg, 57, was taken into custody Tuesday after Pennsylvania State Police filed 1,031 criminal and summary charges alleging he subjected 101 dogs and two cats to prolonged neglect at his Main Street residence.

A large number of dogs and cats were rescued after they were found living in deplorable conditions in Belle Vernon, police say. Hundreds of criminal charges were filed Tuesday against the owner. ANNA Shelter

The charges include 52 felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty, 103 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, 245 misdemeanor neglect counts, hundreds of summary animal cruelty and neglect violations and dozens of summary citations alleging dog licensing and rabies vaccination violations.

His arrest marks the latest development in a case that first came to public attention in early June when state police, humane officers and multiple animal rescue organizations removed dozens of dogs and cats from what authorities described at the time as “conditions of extreme neglect.”

According to an affidavit of probable cause, the investigation began nearly two months earlier.

State police allege that on April 9, Paws Across Pittsburgh was contacted by LifeSavers Animal Rescue requesting assistance with Saxberg’s animals.

Two separate voluntary surrenders followed April 12 and April 19, during which 39 mixed-breed dogs, including adults and puppies, were turned over to the rescue organization.

Rescue personnel told investigators approximately 30 additional dogs remained inside the residence after the initial surrender. Veterinary records reviewed by police allegedly showed many of the surrendered animals suffered from giardia, hookworms, tapeworms and coccidia, while photographs depicted dogs covered in urine and feces with severely overgrown nails.

One rescue organization told investigators several of the dogs required six or seven baths before they were clean and they emitted an overpowering odor upon arrival, according to the affidavit.

Investigators allege Saxberg contacted the rescue again May 2 seeking to surrender 10 additional adult dogs.

According to the affidavit, rescue officials asked Saxberg to provide photographs of the remaining dogs to help secure additional placements, but investigators allege he never sent the photos and ceased communicating until May 26, when he again requested to surrender seven puppies.

When troopers executed a search warrant June 3, they reported detecting a strong foul odor while standing on the roadway outside the residence.

As officers approached, they heard numerous dogs barking inside and observed piles of garbage scattered throughout the backyard.

Inside, investigators allege they found 62 mixed-breed dogs and two cats living in deplorable conditions.

The affidavit states animals were covered in urine and feces. Some were confined to dark enclosures while others roamed freely through the residence. Police allege there was no adequate food or potable water for any of the animals and that hundreds of flies were present throughout the home.

Investigators also conducted an ammonia test inside the residence that measured 50 parts per million, a level the affidavit attributes to accumulated urine.

One puppy discovered during the search was described in the affidavit as extremely lethargic and was immediately transported by a humane society police officer to Duck Hollow Animal Hospital for emergency treatment.

According to the affidavit, the puppy died the following day from dehydration, hypothermia and starvation.

Veterinarians treating the seized animals documented a lengthy list of medical conditions, according to the affidavit, including emaciation, severe weight loss, urine- and feces-stained fur, nasal discharge, bloody stool, abdominal abnormalities, yeast infections, wounds and multiple parasite infestations. Animals also tested positive for hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, parvovirus and giardia.

According to the affidavit, five dogs were humanely euthanized because of their medical conditions and five additional dogs later died after testing positive for parvovirus or suffering severe parasite infestations.

Investigators said between April 12 and June 3, authorities removed 101 dogs and two cats from Saxberg’s property.

Investigators concluded the animals were living in filthy conditions without access to clean food, potable water or sanitary shelter and required immediate veterinary treatment.

For Jackie Naylor, who has lived behind the property since 2017, Tuesday’s arrest brought a mixture of relief and disbelief.

Naylor said when she and her husband moved into their home nearly nine years ago, Saxberg owned only a few dogs.

Within a year or two, however, she said loose dogs regularly wandered onto neighboring properties.

“They were constantly getting loose,” she said. “One almost bit my husband. We complained to police and animal control several times before they finally made him put up a fence.”

Even after the fence was installed, Naylor said conditions at the property steadily deteriorated.

She remembers hearing puppies over the years and assumed Saxberg was breeding dogs, but she never imagined the scale investigators would later uncover.

“We only ever saw about eight dogs outside,” she said. “Those were the only eight I ever knew existed.”

Naylor said she was stunned to learn more than 100 animals had been living inside the modest home.

“I just couldn’t understand where they were all being kept,” she said.

According to Naylor, one of the most noticeable changes came during the last year and a half as a foul odor began permeating the neighborhood.

“It was bad,” she said. “I can’t even explain how bad it smelled. We couldn’t sit in our backyard because of it. It even smelled in our front yard.”

She described the odor as something far worse than ordinary animal waste.

“I honestly thought maybe something had died in the woods between our properties,” she said.

Naylor also described the property itself as falling into severe disrepair.

“The roof probably only had one little section of metal left,” she said. “The rest was tarps. Garbage just kept piling up because they weren’t paying for trash service. In the summer he’d burn it, and one time he even caught part of the hillside on fire.”

She said neighbors repeatedly discussed reporting the property, but eventually grew discouraged.

“It got to the point where people just felt like nothing was ever going to happen,” she said.

When authorities executed the June search warrant, Naylor watched from her backyard.

She began hearing investigators announce each animal as it was carried from the house.

“I remember hearing them call out, ‘Number 49, brindle female,’ and they would bring another dog out,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe it. I watched dogs being carried out of that house that could barely even walk. I am sure a lot of them never even saw sunlight, and that just makes your heart break.”

The realization that so many animals had been hidden inside the home shocked not only her family but much of the neighborhood.

“People kept asking us how we didn’t know,” Naylor said. “But you only ever heard the same few dogs barking. We had absolutely no idea. We’re still shocked.”

Naylor said the neighborhood has been noticeably different since the animals were removed.

“It’s so quiet now,” she said. “You don’t realize how much noise there was until it’s gone.”

Although relieved by the arrest, she said the investigation continues to weigh heavily on her.

“It still breaks my heart that those animals went through that,” she said. “I just hope the ones that survived recover and get the lives they deserve. As far as he goes, he is exactly where he should be.”

Saxberg was arraigned Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Richard Kasunic II.

Unable to post $85,000 monetary bail, he remains lodged in the Fayette County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 21.

In a separate but related case, Saxberg also is charged with unlawful operation of a kennel, for which bail was set at $5,000. A preliminary hearing in that matter is also scheduled for July 21. The residence has since been condemned.