Nassau Dad, Daughter Convicted Of Abusing Special-Needs Dog

GLEN HEAD, NY — A Glen Head father and daughter have been convicted of animal torture after prosecutors said they neglected a handicapped dog, leading the animal to suffer open and infected wounds, emaciation and other severe injuries.

Christine Bagwell, 31, and her 71-year-old father, Gregory Bagwell, were convicted Thursday of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and failing to provide proper sustenance, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced Monday. Gregory Bagwell was convicted at a bench trial and his daughter was convicted by a jury. The trial lasted about a month and jurors needed less than 30 minutes to reach a decision.

The Bagwells were scheduled to be sentenced April 24.

"Instead of providing the care that Kacii needed, these defendants left her to suffer," Singas said in a statement. "The successful prosecution of animal crimes goes beyond protecting our four-legged friends. Studies have shown a strong correlation between animal abuse and domestic violence, and my office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting these cases to better protect our community."

Gary Rogers, president of the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said in a statement: "We want to thank the Nassau County District Attorney for how seriously she takes animal crimes. With rehabilitation, Kacii is now once again whole and up for adoption."

In June 2018, the Bagwells took their 5-year-old pitbull-mix, Kacii, home from a veterinarian after suffering a broken back in a car crash, prosecutors said. Veterinarian staff said the dog became special needs and would need around-the-clock care. The Bagwells agreed to properly care for Kacii but neglected her over the next five months, prosecutors said.

On Nov. 1, 2018, someone called the SPCA after finding the dog dragging herself on the pavement outside the Bagwell's home. Animal welfare authorities found Kacii with open, bloody wounds, and the Bagwells were arrested the following month.

Veterinarians determined she was emaciated, suffering from infected sores, a urinary tract infection, fever, diarrhea, overgrown nails and had caked excrement all over her body, prosecutors said. Kacii recovered from her injuries after being placed into foster care and is now up for adoption. Anyone interested in adopting her should call 516-THE-SPCA.

Click here to see before-and-after video of Kacii.