Pets pulled from home where malnourished children lived

Twenty six animals have been removed from the West Rockhill home where authorities recently found seven children they said were living in “deplorable” conditions.

Bucks County SPCA Humane Police Officers took two dogs, one cat, two turtles, one lizard and 18 rats from the Roseann Lane home of Shane and Crystal Robertson, said the SPCA’s communications director, Cindy Kelly. All the animals are being examined and given appropriate care, Kelly said. Animal cruelty charges are pending against the Robertsons.

The couple is facing seven felony counts of endangering the welfare of their children, ages 4 to 16, after authorities reportedly found them malnourished and living in squalid conditions. A padlock was on the refrigerator and court records showed Crystal Robinson described her children as “garbage disposals with legs.” Six of the children are girls and one is a boy, according to court documents.

Medical evaluations of the children found them to be “clinically underweight” and malnourished. Two of the children needed their heads shaved due to severe matting and maggots. One child had ringworm, officials reported. Extensive dental care and corrective eye care will also be necessary.

Interviews with the children found they had never attended school and did not know their birth dates. They also experienced social anxiety and did not like to be around others.

Three of the children are in foster care and four are with family members, Pennridge Regional Police Chief Paul Dickerson said earlier.

The Robertsons posted 10 percent of $10,000 bail and were released from custody following their arrest late last month. They are scheduled to appear in Bucks County court in August.

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