A Newtown Township man faces charges after police say he brutally killed two family dogs in his home.
George Gooch Ash, 40, was charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and cruelty to animals. He is awaiting preliminary arraignment before a district judge.
Newtown Township police and Bucks County SPCA Police began their investigation on Saturday, Jan. 18, after being called to Ash’s residence at around 5:29 p.m. The 9-1-1 call was made by Ash himself, who admitted to the dispatchers that he had killed the dogs following a visit to his mother at a nursing home that left him angry, authorities said.
Upon arrival, officers encountered Ash wearing blood-stained clothing as he exited his home in the 20 block of Essex Place. He was immediately detained, police said.
According to investigators, Ash was taken to St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown Township for medical treatment due to self-inflicted stab wounds.
Police said they discovered that Ash initially abused the dogs by kicking and hitting them before stabbing them with kitchen knives. One of the knives broke off inside one of the dogs, leading Ash to use a second knife to continue the attack until both dogs were dead, police said.
According to court papers, police found blood-stained floors and kitchen knives used in the attack inside the townhome.
The deceased dogs – a 7-year-old male Beagle-Lab mix named Blake and a 9-year-old female Beagle-Collie mix named Shyla – suffered severe slashing and puncture wounds, police said.
“To say the defendant’s actions were inhumane is an understatement,” District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. “They were sadistic.”
Linda Reider, Executive Director of the Bucks County SPCA, said the organization is committed to getting justice for the animals.
“Our mission will always be to end animal suffering in Bucks County,” Reider said. “To that end, we are working with Newtown Township police and the Bucks County District Attorney to gain justice for Shyla and Blake, two beagles who were tragically and horrifically killed by someone they knew well.”
Newtown Township police Detective Joseph Camp and Bucks County SPCA Chief of Police Nikki Thompson led the investigation.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
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