Victoria Rowles, 19 and Elizabeth Ann Hodge, 77, both of 1507 Mt. Carmel St., have been charged with several counts of abuse after authorities with the Lycoming County SPCA responded to 1773 Quenshukeny Road, Linden and discovered a deceased dog in an unclosed black trash bag and a wired dog crate covered in diarrhea on the outside of the property on Feb. 24, 2025, court documents said.

Days later, a Lycoming County Humane Officer viewed video supplied by the reporting party showing a pitbull-type dog living in a filthy wired crate and several cats roaming the property which was described as “trashed,” an affidavit said.

The witness told authorities that she had seen worms within the feces of the dog prior to its death, and explained that the dog had been placed outside because the ground was too cold and hard to dig a grave for it, adding that the owners did not have the financial means to seek veterinary services.

Authorities then became aware that Rowles and Hodge had previously lived at the property, which Hodge owned with her four other sisters, but now reside at the Mt. Carmel address.

Interviewed at that address, Rowles allegedly stated the pitbull, named Wilbur, had defecated very large worms, and had died of heart worms. She said she and Hodge, her grandmother, did not have money to seek veterinary care and were waiting for the ground to thaw in order to bury Wilbur, according to court documents.

Hodge and Rowles told investigators that they had tried to treat the infestation with a worm treatment purchased at a local department store, but were unsuccessful. They owner-surrendered Wilbur’s body to the SPCA, who arranged for a necropsy to be performed.

The mammalian pathologist responsible for the report stated that the dog was severely emaciated, with a bone marrow fat content of 0.6%, an affidavit said.

Evidence was also found that Wilbur had ingested plastic material. Some debris was found in his coat, and a fecal examination was positive for some parasitic eggs, according to authorities.

Rowles and Hodge were each charged with one count of cruelty to animals, two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and four counts of neglect of an animal, arraigned before District Judge Denise Dieter and released on $20,000 bail.