A Polk Township woman currently residing in New Jersey has been charged with nearly 300 counts of neglect and aggravated cruelty to animals.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Gregory Jordan, a Humane Society police officer employed by the Pennsylvania SPCA in the case against Linda Reul:

At 8 a.m. July 14, 2023, a complaint was received from a Pennsylvania dog warden supervisor that was forwarded to Pennsylvania SPCA after the Monroe County Coroner’s Office had called the dog warden to a residence in the 600 block of Long Mountain Road in Effort.

The complaint indicated that there were over 50 Jack Russell terrier mixes, about 15 puppies and a number of cats. The husband had died, and the wife, Linda Reul, wanted to sign over all of the animals. It further indicated that it appeared to be a hoarder situation that got out of control.

The warden supervisor indicated that no one had been allowed in the house so she had limited information.

Jordan arrived at the location with the dog warden supervisor, and the Monroe County dog wardens were on scene to assist. Reul, 61, said she had about 50 dogs and wanted to surrender them. Reul also said her husband had collapsed on the exterior front steps of the location earlier that morning and had died.

She said she would be able to assist by bringing the dogs to the door, but she said she was unsure about surrendering her birds and a senior dog. Reul signed a consent to search form that Jordan prepared related to all animals at the location.

Unsanitary conditions

The inside of the house had large accumulations of animal feces throughout, and the ammonia level made it difficult to breathe. So many dogs were running loose in the house that Jordan couldn’t count them accurately.

Most of the dogs appeared to have feces caked in their coats. Many dogs also appeared to have veterinary issues with their eyes. Some of the dogs appeared to be in an emaciated state.

There was a large mixed breed dog in a crate next to the front door that appeared older. The remainder of dogs appeared to be Jack Russell terrier or dachshund mixed-breed dogs.

Multiple different types of birds were in a sunroom in the rear of the house, with finches in bird cages, a parrot and a dove. Multiple dogs were in an unsanitary second-floor bathroom and a second-floor bedroom.

The second-floor bedroom also contained cats. Five kittens were observed in an unsanitary crate in that room. There were also young puppies crated in the unsanitary room.

All areas of the location were unsanitary, with feces throughout, and in some areas of the floor caked to the floor over 2 inches thick. There were also dogs and puppies in the garage area, which was unsanitary. The animals were moving freely when Reul would open the doors within the house.

An ammonia level test was taken by Jordan to measure the ammonia level and the test indicated the ammonia level was between 50 to 100 parts per million (ppm).

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an acceptable short-term exposure limit is 35 ppm for 15 minutes.

It was difficult to breathe in the location, and Jordan needed to step outside every few minutes for fresh air.

Jordan told Reul that all of the animals would need to be removed. Reul brought dogs to the door and provided identification of the dogs and cats, if she was aware of their names and sex. No animals were currently under veterinary care, said Reul, who indicated she had resided at the location for a few years.

On that afternoon, 139 dogs were removed and five kittens, with many more animals remaining. Reul signed a surrender form for the animals removed on that date, and additionally signed a consent to search concerning all animals at the location for the following day as their transport vehicles had reached their limit in space.

Jordan estimated 25 to 30 dogs were still at the location with the birds. Reul agreed to meet with the SPCA humane officer the following morning for removal of the remaining animals. Jordan asked Reul if she ever had contact with authorities related to her animals in the past, and she stated no.

During the search, Reul repeatedly underestimated the amount of animals in rooms of the house and was not truthful with numbers of animals throughout the property. Reul also indicated no animals were on the basement level. The 139 dogs and five cats that were secured and removed from the location were subsequently taken to PSPCA facilities.

Jordan determined that he had previous contact with Reul in 2015 during an investigation at a property in Stroudsburg, and Reul had previously been advised of the animal cruelty/neglect laws at that time.

The next day

On July 15, 2023, PSPCA humane officers returned to the location.

Reul permitted officers to remove all animals from inside the residence, but again denied that any animals were in the basement.

Officers conducted a search of the basement, which had to be entered through an exterior back door, and found multiple animals, including rabbits, peacocks, chickens and a raccoon.

Based upon the discovery of the raccoon, the game warden was contacted and responded to the scene.

The officers and the Pennsylvania game warden removed the raccoon from a wire crate that was secured with a padlock. The cage was unsanitary, and based upon its condition had not been opened for an extended period of time.

When asked why she had a raccoon in her basement, Reul said she had trapped it after her neighbors became frustrated with her feeding the raccoon and its persistent presence at their property.

An additional 34 dogs, 12 cats, four rabbits, four finches, two guinea pigs, two peacocks, one parakeet, one hen, one Silky type chicken, one Amazon type parrot, one dove and the raccoon were removed. All of the animals had been subject to unsanitary living conditions.

Reul signed surrender forms turning over the animals, except the raccoon, to the PSPCA. The raccoon was confiscated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

On July 19, 2023, Jordan returned to the location as Reul had contained the last dog that was previously running loose on her property.

Reul signed a surrender slip for this black/tan Jack Russell terrier mix dog, which she identified as “Boo Boo,’ and additionally stated she is now residing with her mother in Union, New Jersey.

Jordan put on a protective Tyvek suit and checked the location with Reul, and no other animals were remaining. Jordan had large amounts of fleas on his body after walking through the location. All of the animals except the raccoon were taken to PSPCA facilities to be examined by veterinary staff.

The animals were taken to Lancaster, Philadelphia and Chester County locations. After they were treated, the animals were offered by the PSPCA as low-cost adoptions to encourage people to give them homes.

Reul faces charges on 276 counts: 265 of neglect of animals and 11 of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Reul is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on Dec. 12 before District Judge Colleen Mancuso of Brodheadsville.