Clyde (WSYR-TV) – Two Amish men – Merlin Schmucker and Jonathon Eicher – are facing animal cruelty charges after police say they killed puppies they couldn’t sell.
Schmucker, 26, of Burch Road, Clyde, and Eicher, 19, of Gansz Road, Lyons, are both facing nine counts of cruelty to animals.
Police say Schmucker asked Eicher to shoot the red heeler puppies when no one bought them.
They say Eicher admitted to killing the puppies with a .22 caliber rifle in December.
A highway crew found some of the dead dogs in a roadside ditch in January, according to State Police.
The two men were released on appearance tickets. They are scheduled to return to court on next month.
