Law enforcement officials charged a second suspect in a case of animal abuse which left a dog starving and living in poor conditions, according to a criminal complaint.
Melissa Zawicki, of 603 Hickory St., Peckville, faces misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and animal abuse.
Zawicki is the fiancé of Anthony Mercado, a former Blakely police officer no longer with the department following the charges. Mercado, of the same address, also faces misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and animal abuse.
Griffin Pond Animal Shelter and the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s office say they’re fielding numerous calls questioning why more serious charges weren’t filed against Mercado.
Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher says in order for the case to rise to a felony requires an animal suffer permanent injury, defined as permanent disfigurement, dismemberment or disability.
“The animal did recover,” he said, adding the investigation included a review of the dog’s medical records.
Gallagher points out, however, that should Mercado be found guilty of cruelty to animals — a second-degree misdemeanor — he would lose the right to serve as a police officer forever and could serve up to two years.
“He would lose his certification,” Gallagher said.
Should he be found guilty of animal neglect — a third-degree misdemeanor — he could serve up to a year in jail.
Griffin Pond Animal Shelter took to Facebook with an official statement Friday, addressing the “large volume of calls and messages,” they’ve received about the charges in the case.
“To clarify, while our humane officer acted swiftly and appropriately by seizing the dog and initiating charges, ultimately the decision regarding what charges are filed lies with the District Attorney’s office and not the humane officer,” the release read. “Our humane officer must submit her findings and recommendations for review, and from there, they must be approved.”
Blakely police chief Guy Salerno said his department has also been inundated with questions about the nature of the charges.
Salerno emphasized that although he fully cooperated with the investigation, his department did not investigate or bring the charges.
Mercado and Zawicki await preliminary hearings scheduled for 9:15 a.m. on July 9 before District Laura Turlip.
Mercado surrendered the boxer, Reya, to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter. The boxer was subsequently adopted.
“This sweet girl was found emaciated, scared, and fighting for h
This sweet girl was found emaciated, scared, and fighting for her life,” Griffin Pond wrote in a Facebook post which included a picture of the dog. “But thanks to the kindness of strangers who refuse to look away, Reya is now safe, healing, and learning what it means to be loved.”