Target: Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe, District Attorney of Chester County, Pennsylvania
Goal: Prosecute the licensed kennel operator charged with animal cruelty after allegedly abandoning a female Rottweiler near a trash can and fleeing the area in a horse and buggy.
A deeply troubling case has emerged from Pennsylvania, where a licensed kennel operator has been charged with cruelty to animals after reportedly abandoning a female Rottweiler near a trash can — and allegedly fleeing the area at high speed in a horse and buggy. According to the criminal complaint, a witness heard what she described as a “horrible screeching howl” before spotting the dog alone near a rubbish receptacle and approaching out of concern. A separate neighbor reported seeing a horse and buggy traveling at a high rate of speed in the area at the same time, with a man shouting to urge the horse forward. Through witness statements and additional evidence, investigators subsequently linked the incident to a 58-year-old licensed kennel operator.
According to authorities, the incident occurred on December 1, 2025, with charges formally filed in April 2026 following the investigation. The accused faces a cruelty to animals charge — and the fact that he is a licensed kennel operator makes the alleged conduct particularly alarming. Individuals licensed to operate kennels are entrusted with the welfare of animals as a professional responsibility. The alleged deliberate abandonment of a dog near a trash can — accompanied by what investigators suggest was an attempt to flee the scene — points to a disturbing disregard for animal welfare by someone who holds a formal license to care for them.
A dog abandoned near a rubbish bin, yelping in distress as her alleged owner fled the area, deserves the full protection of Pennsylvania’s animal welfare laws. The accused’s status as a licensed kennel operator makes this case a matter of public safety as well as animal welfare — a license to operate a kennel cannot coexist with a record of alleged animal abandonment and cruelty. The District Attorney must pursue this case vigorously and ensure that any conviction results in the permanent revocation of the accused’s kennel license and a prohibition on future animal ownership.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear DA Barrena-Sarobe,
We are writing in response to a deeply troubling case in which a licensed kennel operator has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly abandoning a female Rottweiler near a trash can and fleeing the area in a horse and buggy. According to the criminal complaint, a witness heard a “horrible screeching howl” before finding the dog alone and distressed near a rubbish receptacle. Another neighbor reportedly witnessed a horse and buggy leaving the area at an unusually high rate of speed at the same time. Investigators subsequently linked the incident to the accused through witness accounts and additional evidence.
We are gravely concerned that the individual charged in this case holds a license to operate a kennel — a formal position of trust and responsibility over the welfare of animals. The alleged deliberate abandonment of a dog near a trash can, combined with what appears to have been an attempt to flee the scene, represents a profound betrayal of that responsibility. A licensed kennel operator who abandons animals must face consequences that reflect the serious breach of both legal and professional obligations.
We respectfully demand that your office pursue the full available charges and penalties in this case, that the accused’s kennel license be referred for immediate suspension or revocation pending the outcome of proceedings, and that any sentencing include a permanent prohibition on animal ownership and operation of any animal care business. The Rottweiler in this case was fortunate — a concerned witness intervened. We ask that your office ensure those allegedly responsible face the full weight of the law.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: JUAN RAMON RODRIGUEZ SOSA
