Police charge Fayette County woman in starvation deaths of 2 cats, dog

Paul Peirce | Wednesday, January 8, 2020 11:48 a.m.

After finding two cats and a dog dead inside her former Washington County apartment, state police on Wednesday charged a 22-year-old woman with multiple counts of animal cruelty and neglect.

Dominique Lynn Cronin abandoned the animals in her former apartment in Daisytown about a month ago when she moved to Chestnut Ridge, Fayette County, Trooper Nicholas Miller alleges in court documents.

Their carcasses were discovered Jan. 5 after state police received a tip from an acquaintance of Cronin. They died of “apparent dehydration, starvation,” Miller reported.

“There was no signs of cat or dog food or a readily available source of water for the pets,” Miller wrote in court documents. A necropsy “confirmed the animals died of starvation with no signs of other illnesses or conditions which would have caused death.”

Authorities entered the apartment on Whitehall Road and discovered deplorable conditions, with cat and dog feces throughout the residence, Miller said .Washington County humane officers assisted in the investigation.

Cronin could not be reached for comment. No attorney is listed in court documents.

Cronin is charged with three counts each of aggravated cruelty to animals, cruelty to animals and neglect of animals. She has not been arraigned, according to court dockets.