A Colerain Township man has been charged with torturing and abusing a dog by cutting its leg off with a pair of scissors, then refusing to provide veterinary care for days.

Stephen L. Stoltzfus, 45, was charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and one count of cruelty to animals.

Stoltzfus, 45, is accused of severing one of the dog’s legs with scissors after it had been injured by farming equipment at his residence in the 800 block of Pumping Station Road, then failing to bring the dog to a veterinarian for days despite a clinic’s repeated pleas.

Police found the dog, a 4-year-old female labradoodle-type, with blood-soaked fur and missing part of her hind leg with bone easily visible and exposed. The dog had suffered acute blood loss and numerous other medical complications including infection of the wound, severe anemia, fleas, ticks and blood matting.

When asked by police how the dog’s leg came to be amputated, Stoltzfus explained that the animal was injured by a hay machine blade and that he cut the remainder of the leg off with scissors. Stoltzfus also told police he had never obtained licensed veterinary care for the dog, which he claimed was “happy and doing fine.”

A Quarryville-area veterinary clinic contacted police in May, stating that Stoltzfus had been calling them asking for pain medication for the dog due to its leg being severed, but refusing to bring the animal in for examination or further treatment.

Clinic staff explained to police that Stoltzfus had refused to bring the dog in for care multiple times despite their concerns that the dog’s wound could become infected or face other complications.

Lancaster County Detectives and Pennsylvania State Police assisted Pennsylvania SPCA in arresting Stoltzfus.

Judge William Mankin set Stoltzfus’ bail at $10,000 unsecured in a preliminary arraignment June 2. Stoltzfus is currently free on that amount.

Additionally, Judge Mankin ordered Stoltzfus to turn over his remaining six large dogs and eight puppies to Pennsylvania SPCA’s custody.

Pennsylvania SPCA Humane Society Police Officer Jennifer Nields filed the charges.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.