A Wayne Township woman is wanted on a long list of felony, misdemeanor, and summary charges stemming from an animal cruelty investigation opened on August 14, 2025.
Sylwia A. Zapolska, 45, is still wanted on multiple charges as of this publication.
The investigation began when an employee at Benny’s Pizza and Burgers, located along Route 183 in Wayne Township, reported that someone had dumped multiple trash bags into the restaurant’s dumpsters. Inside, workers discovered a gruesome scene.
Trooper David A. McFarland Jr. responded and, alongside restaurant staff, opened the bags — finding several deceased puppies and one live dog, a tiny Afghan Hound puppy “squirming and whimpering” amid the trash.
The surviving puppy, believed to be about one week old, was rushed to Mountain Shadow Veterinary Hospital in Friedensburg, where it received emergency care.
Troopers noted that many of the bags emitted a strong stench and were infested with maggots and flies.
The deceased puppies were transported to the Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA for holding and later taken to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS) for necropsies.
Veterinary findings showed the puppies were in poor postmortem condition, making it difficult to determine whether they were born alive or were stillborn. Some had collapsed lungs, indicating they may have died in utero or shortly after birth.
According to investigators, a representative of the National Afghan Rescue Club told police the defendant and her husband had been prolific breeders, producing at least 50 puppies over the last 15 years. She stated that responsible breeders take deceased puppies to a veterinarian rather than disposing of them improperly.
Police also interviewed Zapolska’s estranged husband, who said the couple was in the process of a divorce. He told troopers that his wife rarely sought veterinary care for newborn dogs and often tried to treat them herself. He added that Zapolska struggled emotionally with sick puppies and had “made him” euthanize their dogs in the past.
He also claimed he personally witnessed her dumping deceased puppies into dumpsters.
The investigation resulted in a long list of charges, 50 total, including:
Felony Charges (10 counts)
-
Aggravated Cruelty to Animals — Causing Serious Bodily Injury or Death
Misdemeanor Charges
-
Cruelty to Animals (10 counts, M2)
Neglect of Animals — Failure to Provide Veterinary Care (10 counts, M3)
-
Transporting Animals in a Cruel Manner (10 counts)
-
Abandoning Dogs Within the Commonwealth (10 counts)
Online court documents show a warrant remains active for Zapolska’s arrest.