SHENANDOAH - A district judge ruled Monday that a Shenandoah man accused of abandoning 12 dogs inside his home last week owes almost $3,000 in back rent to his landlord.
In addition, the ruling also allows Robert R. And Tara M. Florio permission to evict Jose Rivera and Shameka Rivera from the property they own at 216 W. Atlantic St. in the borough.
Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker conducted the landlord-tenant Recovery of Real Property dispute hearing Monday and determined both Jose and Shameka Rivera owe a total of $2,830 in back rent.
Kilker's judgement includes the back rent along with filing fees of $114, server fees of $45.50 and costs of $10 for a total owed of $2,999.60.
On Wednesday, Shenandoah police went to the Rivera home and found the animals, four dogs and eight puppies, abandoned.
Officials of the Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA in Pine Grove said the dogs were left inside the home without food and water.
In addition to the back rent, the Florios are planning to evict Jose and Shameka Rivera due to the damage the dogs caused to his property. In his ruling, Kilker ruled the couple presented enough evidence to proceed with the eviction proceedings.
Shenandoah police Chief George Carado said his department is continuing its investigation into the abandoned animals and that charges will be filed at that time.
Patrolman Laurie Dudash, the investigating officer, said the animals found inside the house were all pit bulls and two had injuries.
One of the dogs had injuries to its back while another, the apparent mother of the puppies, had open wounds.
"The injuries were not properly addressed," Dudash said.