Police: Lancaster County man cut off Labradoodle’s injured leg with scissors, refused vet care

A Lancaster County man was charged with animal cruelty when police say he used scissors to cut off the leg of an injured Labradoodle.

Stephen L. Stoltzfus, 45, told police his 4-year-old female dog got injured by a hay machine blade, so he cut the remainder of her leg off with scissors, then didn’t take her to a vet because she was “happy and doing fine.”

The incident occurred in early May at his home in Colerain Township. Police issued a news release Monday after the charges were filed.

Police found the dog with blood-soaked fur, missing part of her hind leg, with bone “easily visible and exposed. The dog had suffered acute blood loss and numerous other medical complications, including infection of the wound, severe anemia, fleas and ticks.”

A Quarryville-area veterinary clinic told police Stoltzfus had called them asking for pain medication because of a severed leg, but refused to bring the dog in for examination of treatment.

Staff members tried to explain to Stoltzfus that the dog’s wound could become infected or other complications, but he still refused to bring in the dog, they told police.

State police worked with animal control to charge Stoltzfus with two felonies: aggravated animal cruelty, and misdemeanor animal cruelty. A judge set a $10,000 unsecured bond.

The judge additionally ordered Stoltzfus to turn over his six remaining large dogs and eight puppies to Pennsylvania SPCA’s custody.

The wounded dog, named Kimber, was being cared for by an animal rescue in Chester County known as Main Line Animal Hospital, where they are using donated stem cell wraps to help her leg heal.

The company Anicellbiotech donated the wraps, which are giving Kimber the best possible chance at recovery, rescue workers said.