WAYNESBORO, Pa. (May 8, 2026) — In Defense of Animals is deeply disappointed at the sentencing of Timothy Eyler, who was charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty for killing two cats in his neighborhood. 

On April 29, Judge Angela R. Krom sentenced Eyler to 2-23 months in prison based on state sentencing guidelines, in addition to a $300 fine for each count. He was also ordered to complete a mental health evaluation and treatment, a DNA test, drug and alcohol prohibition and testing, a ban on drug and alcohol use, and treatment. He is not to have firearms and he is ordered to take anger management. He’s also prohibited from having animals for seven years.

The investigation began on February 13, 2026, when officers with the Waynesboro Police Department responded to a report of animal cruelty. According to the affidavit of probable cause, Eyler allegedly admitted to killing two community cats over the past year. He reportedly told police that the first cat was living around his apartment complex. He also admitted to killing a second community cat after she had birthed multiple litters of kittens. 

He reportedly told police he “was in a bad place” when he committed the act, claiming he had taken three Benadryl, causing high anxiety. He stated that he “wasn't thinking straight” and killed the cat in “a moment of rage.”

The affidavit further states that Eyler told officers he did not “brutally” kill the cats but strangled them because he “did not know how to snap their necks.” Both defenseless cats suffered agony and terror as the intentional killing by strangulation is a prolonged and violent act. 

According to court records, Eyler was charged with two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals causing serious bodily injury or death, and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. Had he been sentenced to the maximum penalties under Pennsylvania’s overhauled cruelty laws, he would have faced severe prison time with seven years for each felony count and two years for each misdemeanor, as well as fines of $15,000 for each felony count and $5,000 for each misdemeanor.

“Research consistently shows that acts of animal cruelty are not isolated incidents. They are recognized as indicators of escalating violent behavior and broader public safety concerns. Addressing such crimes with appropriate legal consequences is essential for both animal protection and community safety. Domestic violence is fraught with the abuse of a partner's animal companion. The courts and legislators must start taking these sadistic crimes seriously,” said In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner Doll Stanley.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters, defending animals, people, and the environment through education, campaigns, and hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, California, and rural Mississippi since 1983. www.idausa.org/justice4animals

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