Pennsylvania veterinarian facing animal cruelty charges

Clyde Rendell Shoop, VMD, 67, and Kimberly A. Shoop, 52, of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, are facing 11 counts of animal cruelty each after investigators found severely emaciated and dead animals on their property during a search on January 22, according to Pennsylvania Department of State documents. Shoop is listed as the owner of Pocono West Mobile Equine Services.

Following a complaint, state police found 16 horses, 20 sheep, 10 dogs, a calf, a raccoon, a wild turkey, two alligators, a boa constrictor, a pig and birds on the property during the search, according to WFMZ News in Pennsylvania.

Of those animals, nine of the horses were in critical condition with body condition scores of 1-2, the pig was severely dehydrated and the calf was emaciated. Two of the horses are currently pregnant. Investigators also found the remains of 12 other animals in pits around the property or under pallets. One deceased horse was found under a mattress, according to board documents. A lack of food, water and shelter available to the animals on the property was noted as well. 

Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Last Chance Ranch, Lehigh, Carbon and Schuylkill County Animal Response Teams, Carbon County Friends of Animals, Carbon County Animal Shelter and the Carbon County Humane Officer all assisted in the rescue of the animals from the property.

The Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees veterinary licensing, lists Shoop as having a valid license through Nov. 30, 2016, though it has temporarily been suspended in connection with the seizure from his property.

A preliminary hearing before the veterinary board will be held within 30 days of the suspension order, which was issued on February 12.

Local media reports that this is not the first time Shoop has come under suspicion of animal cruelty. In 2009 he was charged with four counts of animal cruelty and two counts of tampering with evidence. A district judge later dismissed the charges after there were no witnesses available to testify. Shoop was also fined $500 in 2002 for practicing with an expired license from May 1, 2001, through Dec. 12, 2001.