West Chester, PA - January 24, 2008 - The owners of a three-year-old beagle that was found chained and dead in its East Pikeland yard were ordered today to stand trial on animal cruelty charges for allegedly strarving the dog.

At a preliminary hearing today in Phoenixville, District Justice Theodore Michaels set bail for the couple at 10 percent of $10,000 with the provision that they not own or possess animals.

Before setting bail, Michaels told the couple that if he allowed his emotions to override legal procedure, "you would be in shackles and on your way to Chester County Prison." 

The Lacys posted bail following the preliminary hearing. A hearing in Court of Common Pleas has not yet been scheduled.

Last December, the Chester County SPCA charged George and Leann Lacy, of the 800 block of Spring City Road, with one count each of animal cruelty for starving the dog, which is a misdemeanor. In addition, the couple was charged with ten counts of animal cruelty for not providing adequate food, water, shelter and veterinary care for the dog and four other beagles that were living on the property. They face fines of not less than $1,000 each and up to two years in jail for the misdemeanor charges. For the other charges, which are summary offenses, each of them faces fines of up to $3,750 and up to 450 days in jail.

Responding on December 4 to a call from East Pikeland police, Chester County SPCA officers removed the dead animal and four living dogs from the property, after the couple agreed to give up ownership of the animals. The Chester County SPCA charged the couple for the misdemeanor and summary offenses after obtaining a necropsy report that indicated the female dog died from emmaciation.

The four remaining dogs - two males and two females between five and 10 years of age - were cared for at the Chester County SPCA and treated for heartworm. One male dog has been adopted. The other male and two female dogs are available for adoption.