A Bucks County man is charged with cruelty to animals (Misdemeanor 2) and neglect of animals (Misdemeanor 3) after police say a bulldog that belonged to him was found ill and alone in a Lower Saucon Township roadway in early August.
In a post on their Crimewatch site Friday, township police said that because the dog was microchipped they were able to trace ownership of it to Paul J. Hancharik Jr., 52, of Sellersville, after taking custody of it in the 3800 block of Beeline Drive on Aug. 6.
After police took custody of the dog they said it required treatment at a local veterinary hospital, and ultimately was taken to Peaceable Kingdom where it was put up for adoption.
With assistance from the Pennridge Regional Police Department township police said they made contact with Hancharik, who reportedly told them he had taken his dog to an “unknown vet” in either Lower Saucon or Upper Saucon Township because it was “terminally ill.”
“(Hancharik) stated he left the dog at (the) unknown veterinary hospital…and assumed it had passed away,” police said, adding that they “checked (with) several local veterinary hospitals and located no records for the animal.”
As of Friday afternoon, Hancharik had not yet had a preliminary hearing on the charges, according to online county court records.