A Pike County man jailed earlier this month on minor charges now faces felony counts that he tortured five dogs because he left them locked for five days in his freezing and filthy basement with no food or water, state police at Blooming Grove said Friday.
James M. Mazzone, 56, 128 Whipporwill Drive, Lehman Twp., had no one to call to take care of his pit bulls when he was jailed Nov. 10 by Magisterial District Judge Shannon Muir on $25,000 bail, he explained to authorities.
On Nov. 14, Mazzone’s landlord called troopers to report that his tenant’s dogs had been without food and water since he was arrested Nov. 10 for false alarms to a public safety agency, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
The food and water bowls inside their metal cages were empty, save for urine and feces. There was evidence that one of the dogs had frantically tried to get at the dog food contained inside cardboard boxes near a cage.
Trooper Robert Wareham noted that the ambient temperature of Mazzone’s basement Nov. 14 was 25 degrees when he responded shortly before noon. Police removed the dogs.
Mazzone has historically kept several dogs. A fire broke out Oct. 1, 2017, at his old home on Bear Cub Court in Lehman Twp., where he had 16 dogs. Six dogs died in the fire. The Pike County Humane Society took custody of the other 10 dogs.
Mazzone is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor. He is also charged with animal neglect.
Magisterial District Judge Paul Menditto Sr. set bail at $5,000 for the case, on top of Muir’s $25,000 bail.
Preliminary hearings are scheduled Dec. 3.
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