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Reports of Animal Abuse Lead to Drug Bust

HAZLETON — An animal cruelty complaint in Hazleton led to a drug bust and the rescue of two children and four dogs. Now the adults living in the home face...
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HAZLETON -- An animal cruelty complaint in Hazleton led to a drug bust and the rescue of two children and four dogs.

Now the adults living in the home face serious charges.

Police in Hazleton say this is the perfect example of how important it is for people who see something to say something.

Late Thursday night, police got a call that someone was beating their dog. They responded and discovered much more than that going on in the home.

It looks like your average home along Lincoln Street in Hazleton, and neighbors call this "one of the quieter communities."

"Nothing really happens over here, other than an accident here or there, a car accident," said neighbor Marisol Pagan.

But inside one home police found nearly three pounds of marijuana, shotguns, and thousands of dollars in cash.

Along with drugs and guns discovered in this home, police found large amounts of animal waste with two kids and four dogs living in those conditions.

"I never even seen the kids when they moved in. I never even seen the kids!" said neighbor Bob Condrick.

The couple living in the home were both arrested.

Eudomar Concepcion, 20, faces numerous drug and child endangerment charges.

Police also plan to charge the mother of the children -- Sonia Torres, 25 -- with child endangerment.

'It's horrible because as a father, as someone who has a dog, a pet owner, you know they are innocent," said Hazleton Police Chief Jerry Speziale.

The chief says this case that started from a concerned citizen calling about potential animal abuse, turned into getting more drugs off the street and potentially helping innocent animals and children.

Police in Hazleton stress the national campaign, "see something, say something," and this case proves it works.

As for the children and animals, they have been removed from the custody of the two people living in that home, and police say they are all in better care now.

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