Bucks County, PA — A Newtown Township man who admitted to fatally stabbing his two dogs earlier this year will serve no additional jail time after entering a guilty plea.
On Aug. 26, 40-year-old George Ash pleaded guilty to two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals for the Jan. 18 deaths of his dogs, Shyla and Blake. Each charge carried a potential sentence of up to seven years in state prison.
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However, Common Pleas Judge Stephen Corr sentenced Ash to time served to 23 months on both counts, followed by five years of probation. If he complies with all conditions and avoids violations, his probation could be reduced to two years.
As part of the sentence, Ash must:
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Complete a mental health evaluation and follow treatment recommendations
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Attend anger management classes
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Refrain from owning any pets while on probation
Ash was also granted presumptive parole, pending verification of an address. It’s unclear when he will be released from the Bucks County Correctional Center, where he’s been held since February on $1.5 million bail.
A Brutal and Tragic Case
According to police and court documents, Ash called 911 on Jan. 18, confessing that he stabbed his dogs. Investigators say he attacked them because he was angry at his mother after a visit to her nursing home, where he felt belittled.
Authorities allege Ash kicked and beat the dogs for hours before taking a paring knife and stabbing Blake, his 7-year-old beagle-Labrador mix, with such force that the knife blade snapped off inside the dog’s torso. A necropsy later recovered the blade fragment.
After breaking the first knife, Ash used an 8-inch chef’s knife to stab both Blake and Shyla, his 9-year-old beagle-collie mix. According to the affidavit, it took approximately 20 minutes for the dogs to die. Police later found them lying side by side in the home.
Authorities discovered pools of blood throughout the first floor, including on the dog bed and couch. Ash also stabbed himself superficially after killing the dogs and had visible dark red stains on his clothing when officers arrived.
Community Reaction
During a press conference earlier this year, Bucks County District Attorney Jen Schorn called the case “tragic and unimaginable.”
The Bucks County SPCA, which assisted police with the investigation, confirmed that they had no prior contact with Ash regarding animal welfare concerns. The organization declined to comment on the sentencing.
Ash had no previous criminal record, aside from minor traffic citations, according to court records.
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