Marvin Sensening, 20, of Akron Road, Ephrata, Lancaster County, pled guilty to two counts of animal cruelty and paid $754.50 in fines after he hit and punched the horse who was pulling his working cart on August 2nd. Due to the actions of Sensening, the horse collapsed and was later euthanized.
One count of animal cruelty is for kicking the horse in the abdomen and punching it in the head; the other is for having the horse “pull a farm wagon with a burden too great for a single horse,” according to the summary citations.
The original photos and video of Sensening with the horse were posted on Facebook and went viral. There was a large outcry for justice. The horse was pulling a full cart of watermelons with the police stating the weight of the load was too much for the horse.
I had said in my original article, Sensening, most likely wouldn’t receive jail time since it doesn’t happen often for those who commit animal abuse in Pennsylvania. He could’ve received 180 days in jail in total.
Sensening’s fines were also much lower than they could have been. For each count of animal cruelty, the fine could’ve been $1500 in total. As you can see, he only had to pay half.
Was justice served?
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer and animal advocate. She hosts the show, ” A Close-Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” Have a story, please email Tina at tevangelistaepp@yahoo. Like my tv page at https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com for all the tv shows you may have missed!
No, justice was NOT served!!! What kind of punishment is that? That kind of money is nothing compared to the money they make! One puppy they sell will more than compensate them for this fine. What a joke!
So true. ?
this is insane; not near enough punishment for the death of this horse. He knew it was way too heavy after the horse struggled. The Amish need to be treated like anyone else of this abuse. we want more justice!!
I so agree!
You’re correct that Amish should be treated no differently when they commit animal abuse. Sadly, in the state of PA, the laws created lenient punishments for animal cruelty.
I had written that we need harsher sentences and fine to deter animal abusers from hurting or killing animals.
We have a couple of lawmakers working on bills to accomplish this but it in no way affects this outcome.
I’ve been saying this for years about our laws Very few people ever go to jail in PA for animal abuse. It’s wrong.
Thank you.
I agree, where’s justice in a case like this????
Figures. I expected as much. It doesn’t matter how much outrage there is, Pa will never punish the people. The Amish and the Mennonites get away with such cruelty in this state. It’s such a serious matter but our lawmakers refuse to make changes or pass bills that could potentially change all of this. In Pa, we’re lucky if we get laws changed at all for animals. We’re still working on getting a law passed to outlaw the brutal pigeon shoots. Every other state didn’t have a problem making pigeon shoots against the law but not in good ole’ Pennsylvania – the puppy mill capital of the East coast which is due in large part by the Amish and the Mennonites in Lancaster County. There are many others who run these awful, awful places but in Lancaster County, most all of them are run by these two groups.
It right.
This is so aggregous! Why are the people who live there ALLOWING this!.? These horrid people are nothing but barbaric in their treatment of animals! Why are these puppy mills still allowed?? I thought this kind of abuse was a felony!! Someone must be getting paid off to allow this!, What you ALLOW, will continue!
I’m not sure what you mean when you ask, “Why are the people who live there allowing this?” It isn’t the people allowing this. The law needs an overhaul to change this.
Animal cruelty may be a felony in all 50 states but it doesn’t mean anything if the state doesn’t treat animal abuse as a felony. PA treats most cases as misdemeanors with the punishment being very light. Sadly, other states don’t treat animal abuse as a felony either.
Puppy mills are allowed because the law allows it. Puppy mills fall under the Dep’t of Agriculture (which is wrong) who oversee commercial breeding facilities. The Dep’t of Ag does very little to change these places. They have wardens who do inspections on these places. Many question how they are inspected. Many have asked if the wardens are being fair and accurate in their assessment of the breeding facilities.
There has been a shift of how to stop puppy mills. People are trying to turn pet stores into places where people can now adopt. If the demand isn’t there, puppy mill owners wouldn’t breed dogs.
Sadly, the owners use the internet to sell their puppies and unsuspecting people fall for the cute puppy.
It has been an uphill battle to change or stop puppy mills in this country.
It’s not an issue of allowing it since too many advocates are trying to get them shut down. If it isn’t against the law, they will continue. But, if people adopt instead of buying, the demand would go down and if they can’t make money off of the dogs, they would stop using dogs and keeping them in horrendous conditions to breed for profit.
Thanks Ej.
Marvin Sensening pled guilty immediately because the Mennonites do not want to be seen in pictures, on television or in the newspaper. Now, they have to worry about social media. They want to get everything over as quickly as possible. That being said, this is a complete joke. The punishment is an embarrassment for someone who is responsible for the death of a horse on purpose. Pa is a backwards state in regards to laws pertaining to animals. It’s an agriculture state and the Department of Agriculture should not be the ones in charge looking after animals. How ridiculous does that sound to the average person?
Getting away with murder.
unfreaking unbelievable.
Sounds right for this state. A joke. Animal Cruelty is not a joke.
Justice will only be served when people boycott the Amish. Don’t buy their products or the dogs from their horrific puppy mills. It’s time to show them we won’t put up with their cruel cult practices.
He should serve jail time , at least two yrs!!!!!!!!’
It will never happen. It should be like that but Pa is too backwards.
Again, PA animal cruelty laws are a laughingstock. A fine is nothing. When is PA going to make animal abusers pay for their bad deeds? I’m tired of the same old thing. It’s sickening.
Pa laws r a joke.
His punishment was a joke. A slap on the wrist does and proves nothing. I’m sure he went out and bought another one that will be run into the ground. They don’t think highly of animals, dogs or horses. They have so many people fooled.