By The Daily Item
SUNBURY — Two Shamokin men face a March 4 hearing after they were charged again with animal cruelty for allegedly mistreating cattle in 2009.
Lloyd Reitz Sr. and his son, Andy Reitz, owners of Reitz Dairy Farm, 133 Reitz Road, had each been accused of one count of animal cruelty in a complaint filed by former employee, Jeannette K. Aderhold, of Danville, in September, with the assistance of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
The charges were withdrawn in December and were refiled, accusing Lloyd Reitz of 14 separate counts of mistreating cattle and Andy Reitz with seven counts for incidents that took place between March and September.
Philadelphia attorneys Gerald Dugan and Stephen Winning have been appointed by District Attorney Anthony Rosini to prosecute the case.
The Reitzes, who didn’t respond to a call for comment, are represented by Sunbury attorney Roger Wiest II.
According to Aderhold’s complaint, the farmers failed to provide shelter, nourishment and medical care for sick or injured cattle on several occasions, forcing one with an injured leg to move with an electric prod.
She said Lloyd Reitz used an unsterilized pocket knife to free one cow stuck in a pen and cut a gaping wound in the animal’s shoulder muscle, two developed abscess because of a lack of treatment and another lame cow was left outside in the pasture with no access to shelter or treatment for three days.
Some of the cows became so ill that they were shot, Aderhold said.
District Judge John Gembic III, of Shamokin, had prior knowledge of the allegations and has recused himself.
A hearing scheduled for March 4 will be held before District Judge Robert Bolton, of Sunbury.
