Police: Conewago man accused of torturing mother's dachshund York Dispatch A Conewago Township man was charged with animal cruelty after police said he tortured his mother's miniature dachshund. Travis Mervin Mitzel, 29, of the 300 block of Butter Road, faces a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to an animal by torture and a misdemeanor cruelty to an animal charge. Mitzel, 29, is free on a $20,000 bond. He was arrested and arraigned Feb. 28 before District Judge Keith L. Albright. Northern York County Regional Police said Mitzel had threatened his mother "in the past about hurting and killing this specific dog" and "made it clear that he does not like this dog because it barks and growls at him."