The Sheps

Abuse - its happening all over the world; its happening in your community; it could be happening right next door, and in this case it did.

I take you back to Sunday, February 13, 2011 where a shocking discovery was made in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. 

Two German Shepherds were found wandering by a neighbor.  In an effort to return them, this neighbor brought them back to what appeared to have been an abandoned home.  A second building was subsequently discovered on the property.

This is what was inside that building:

In the picture above, there appears to be blood stains all over the wall.  It can only be assumed that before this Shep passed he was desperately trying over and over again to escape through the window until his little emaciated body just couldn't go on.

Ten Sheps were ultimately discovered.  Three of which had parished due to this horrific act of neglect and abuse.  Confirmed by a vet, these three Sheps died as a direct result of starvation: a long, painful, unnecessary death.  It should be noted that there was dog food found inside this prison-like kennel.  However, the dogs had no access to it.  They could see it, smell it, but not reach it. 

Another one of the three perished Sheps, waiting by his door, to be loved, fed, pet, until he took his last breath.

The third Shep who appears to have also been waiting for affection, love, food. 

To further show just how bad the conditions were for the Sheps, get this:  One of the dogs found in his torture-kennel was estimated initially to be a four month old pup weighing aproximately 30 pounds.  Shockingly, it was later determined that this dog was in fact estimated to be 8 to 10 years old.  The average weight for an adult Shep is 77 pounds. 

You don't have to be an animal advocate or even own a pet to get angry seeing these horrific images. 

These Sheps were forced to live in deplorable conditions, without food or water.  They were forced to live in a prison surrounded by their own defication.  They were forced to die, in a cell, alone, cold and hungry.  These acts are nothing short of abuse and torture.

The owner of this property is Pantellis "Pete" Zervas, a local diner owner in Monroe County, PA.

Pete Zervas is an abuser. 



Zervas went before Judge John D. Whitesell of the Monroe County Courthouse last Wednesday. 

Zervas was found guilty on all ten animal cruelty charges.

Don't start cheering yet though.

Zervas' punishment, or lackthereof, includes the following:

• 5,000.00 fine; Zervas apparently has been given permission to make payments on this fine and if is late could face up to 30 days in jail.
• Zervas is prohibited from owning any animal for a maximum of 900 days.

W T F!!!!!!!  How is this justice?  How is this punishment?  How is this fair? 

Personally I think that Zervas should be locked in his own kennel, without food or water, in his own piss and shit.

To make matters worse, Zervas' attorney, Brandon Reish,  made the following statement directly after the hearing, "I can say that we are not going to appeal.  We think it was a fair decision. It was a difficult case."

Fair decision?  Difficult?  There is nothing FAIR about this decision and the facts seem pretty clear to me.  Zervas intentionally abused and tortured these dogs. Zervas was the ultimate deciding factor in their fate.  Zervas murdered innocent animals because he was simply too lazy, too cheap, and too selfish to give a &#$%.  Five grand probably won't even cover the vet care the survivors had to receive due to the abuse at Zervas' hand.

The remaining seven survivors from the Zervas kennel are being nursed back to health and are expected to make a full recovery. 

Justice has not been served.

There are several Facebook pages dedicated to bringing awareness to the abuse that happened in Monroe County.  You can visit the following Facebook pages for updates on how you can help get the word out there and demand justice:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-for-the-Ten-German-Sheps-in-PA/195462500489201

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dog-Lovers-Against-Peter-Zervas-and-Blue-Comet-Diner-in-Hazelton-PA/195929390427177

Judge Whitesell, who found Zervas guilty and gave him a joke of a punishment can be reached at the following address:

Judge Whitesell
P.0. Box 213
MOUNTAINHOME, PA 18342

The people over at The Patrick Movement - Pennsylvania are working on trying to change animal cruelty laws in the Commonwealth.  Please visit their page at :  http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Patrick-Movement-Pennsylvania/120670451344304   and get involved!

I encourage everyone to get involved. 

Animal abuse, neglect and exploitation is happening ALL OVER the WORLD. 

WE need change!  WE need reform!  WE need to protect those that are voiceless.