Alleged abusers of neglected dog ‘Nova’ plead guilty

PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Two people charged with allegedly abandoning a pit bull named Nova pled guilty to animal cruelty offenses, according to officials.

Court officials stated Terik Wiggins 31, of Wilkes-Barre, pled guilty to a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals while Shaniqwa Shantel Scott, 25, of Plymouth, pled guilty to a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals.

An investigation began after Pittston City police Nova was found malnourished in Pittston back in 2021.

According to the Pittston City Police Department, after reviewing several surveillance videos and speaking with residents in the area of Butler Street, officers were led to two possible suspects, Scott, and Wiggins.

Investigators say they spoke with the maintenance manager of the Hanover Village Apartments, where they believed the suspects lived, and were told that a young brown pit bull puppy lived at an apartment rented by Scott and her boyfriend Wiggins and was not well taken care of.

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As stated in the affidavit, investigators then used Google GPS technology and “Geo-Fenced” the area to pinpoint phones used near Butler Street on the date and time the dog was abandoned.

After about 130 other devices were ruled out, police say Wiggins and Scott were two of the three people in the area of Butler Street when the dog was left inside a pop-up kennel.

Investigators officially arrested Wiggins and Scott in February 2023.

In September 2021 the young pit bull Nova was officially adopted by the Pittston Police Department and Chief Neil Murphy as a therapy dog.

Wiggins and Scott could be eligible for the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program, a probationary sentence when they are sentenced. They remain free on bail.

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