We are incredibly disappointed to hear that April Sloane will avoid jail time after being charged with animal cruelty for starving her dog Thor to death after using him as a photo prop to win her election. 

In December 2023, an anonymous tip led to a search warrant being served on the Washington County Controller’s home by the North Strabane Township Police. 

Thor's lifeless body was found wrapped in a garbage bag. It was estimated that he had been dead for almost two weeks at the time investigators discovered his body. Thor's necropsy determined that he had no body fat and weighed only 20 pounds — about half of what he should have weighed. 

On December 12, Sloane was arrested for aggravated animal cruelty. She was free on an unsecured bond, but that was revoked this summer after it was discovered she was living with an animal. She posted the $150,000 cash bond and has been free awaiting trial.;

More than 11,600 people signed In Defense of Animals letter to Washington County District Attorney Jason M. Walsh urging strong sentencing, a mental health evaluation, and prison time. 

However, Sloane accepted a plea deal offered by District Attorney Jason Walsh ahead of her court date scheduled for the second week of September that allowed her to avoid jail, requiring instead she plead guilty to third-degree felony aggravated animal cruelty, serve five years of probation, and resign as county controller by Sept. 30. 

It’s outrageous that Sloane was able to avoid serious consequences for the inexcusable suffering she caused, especially considering she worked as a public servant. While she now has a felony cruelty charge on her record, we must do more to hold those who abuse vulnerable members of our society accountable.

If you’re unhappy about this outcome, please make a polite call and leave a message for District Attorney Jason M. Walsh here:

724-228-6700

We thank you for your dedicated support of our Justice For Animals campaign and your participation in seeking justice and freedom from suffering for each animal’s plight that we report on.

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