According to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, authorities responded to an incident at the residence of John S. Stoltzfus Jr. on Hollander Road in New Holland on October 31, 2023. The distressing incident involved the unfortunate demise of four black Sheepadoodle puppies, affectionately named Tammy, Terry, Todd, and Tom. The local police were called to the scene to investigate this heartbreaking incident.
The New Holland Police received a complaint from an employee at Greenfield Puppies, who had received a call from Stoltzfus. In the call, Stoltzfus requested that the four puppies be removed from their website, as he intended to put them to sleep due to the lack of demand for black puppies. This information was provided by the DA’s office.
According to Stoltzfus, he personally took care of the dogs instead of seeking veterinary assistance. In response to the incident, Lancaster County Detectives and a PSPCA Officer arrived at the 600 block of Hollander Road at approximately 9:35 a.m. on November 1, 2023, to speak with Stoltzfus. He admitted to disposing of the puppies in a compost pile on his property, as reported by the DA’s office.
On the same day, a search warrant was conducted at Stoltzfus’ property. Stoltzfus admitted to “putting them down” in regards to the puppies and assured that they were well taken care of, according to a news release.
During questioning, Stoltzfus directed the detective to a floor drain within a barn where cow manure is channeled. However, upon inspection, no evidence of the puppies was found in that particular location.
Stoltzfus chose to waive his preliminary hearing on Tuesday, May 15. He made this decision before Magisterial District Judge Jonathan Heisse. Stoltzfus is facing four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and four counts of cruelty to animals.
The individual has been released without having to pay any money upfront, as he posted a $10,000 unsecured bail. However, he is currently under pre-trial supervision and is not allowed to engage in activities such as purchasing, breeding, or selling domestic animals. The arraignment for Stoltzfus is set to take place on June 14.
