West Deer Township horse owners charged with around 300 counts of animal abuse

WEST DEER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Drive down Deer Creek Road in Gibsonia and you’ll spot a pink and green barn, but what’s inside is not clear, although according to court documents it once was the home to more than 40 horses.

This case started in March 2021 when a Humane Rescue officer followed a tip that those horses were living in neglect.

The criminal complaint states the horses did not have access to food or water, were standing in two feet of manure and were thin with ribs, spine and hip bones visible. The owners of those horses, according to police, are Kelly Gebhardt and Donald Podczerwinski.

When police said they confronted Podczerwinski about the conditions of the animals, he said, “We will just shoot all the animals, then.”

Now 298 criminal charges are filed against Podczerwinski and 304 were filed against Gebhardt. Those charges include neglect of animals from vet care to shelter and protection, plus aggravated cruelty of animals resulting in death.

In total, the humane officer took 47 animals from the property, which included include 43 horses, two donkeys, one miniature horse and one pig.

Channel 11 did reach out to Gebhardt’s attorney, who said he has no comment until her preliminary hearing in June.

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