From staff reports

NEWTON HAMILTON — A Centre County man was arrested last week after state police said multiple dogs at a Newton Hamilton residence were malnourished and neglected.

David W. Reed Jr., 46, of Milesburg, was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Kent Smith on three counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, three counts of cruelty resulting in injury or death, four counts of neglect of animals and multiple related summary offenses stemming from incidents dating back to November 2024.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Pennsylvania State Police were called to 812 Front St. on Nov. 4, 2024. Troopers reported seeing six or seven dogs housed in cages that were not being properly cared for.

Police said the dogs at that time included three chihuahuas, one other small dog and two larger dogs. One pit bull appeared to be severely underweight, troopers said.

Reed also showed police a chihuahua that belonged to someone else and had recently died in its cage. Police said the dog appeared extremely thin. Reed told troopers the dog suffered from arthritis throughout its body and that a veterinarian recommended euthanasia.

Troopers advised Reed they would follow up on the condition of the remaining dogs. A dog warden later confirmed none of the animals had current licenses. Police said Reed owned three of the dogs and was caring for others on behalf of someone else.

In March 2025, police said they received a complaint from One Dog at a Time regarding malnourished dogs at the Front Street residence. One of the dogs Reed had been caring for was taken to a veterinarian and found to be “very malnourished,” police said.

Two days later, police spoke with a family member of Reed who said she brought food to the home and believed the dogs were dying. The family member told police one dog drowned in a neighbor’s pond, another had died several months earlier, and a third had died just days prior.

A search warrant was issued for the residence. Police seized five live dogs and one deceased dog buried in the backyard. The animals were transported to One Dog at a Time for evaluation.

The deceased dog was sent to the Penn State Animal Diagnostic Laboratory for a necropsy.

Police said three of the dogs were found to be underweight and anemic, consistent with starvation. A fourth dog was slightly underweight, while the fifth was in good health.

On Nov. 4, 2025, police received the necropsy results, which showed the deceased dog was in poor body condition. The report indicated the dog’s stomach contained pecans, hair and what appeared to be a piece of a plastic bag, with no dog food present. The findings suggested a period of anorexia and inadequate nutrition consistent with neglect, police said.

Reed was committed to the Mifflin County Correctional Facility, where bail was set at $50,000 unsecured.