Cop Who Saved 33 Pups At East Village Apartment Honored By ASPCA

EAST VILLAGE, NY — An NYPD officer who rescued 33 malnourished pups from a filthy East Village apartment over the summer was honored by the ASPCA for rescuing the Shih Tzu-Terrier mixed pooches.

The dogs were abandoned in the Campos Plaza Houses on E. 13th Street near Avenue B for five days when neighbors who heard the starving cries of the dogs called police on July 2, police said.

Guzman helped rescue the 33 malnourished dogs from an East Village apartment this summer. (Photo courtesy of the ASPCA)

Officer Alberto Guzman, who is stationed in the NYPD's Police Service Area 7, responded to the 911 call and realized he needed to break into the sweltering apartment. Once he made it inside, Guzman discovered the 33 neglected dogs covered in feces and extremely malnourished.

Their owner, Ivan Paredes, faces charges of torturing and abusing the dogs, which have been put up for adoption. Several of the dogs have already been adopted, the ASPCA said.

The pups have since recovered and several have found loving homes. (Photo courtesy of ASPCA)

Guzman was among 13 other police officers, three prosecutors and a veterinarian for their heroics in animal rescue at an ASPCA luncheon at the non-profit's Upper East Side center Tuesday.

Lead photo courtesy of ASPCA