Long Island Man Charged With Neglect For Emaciated, Sore-Covered Dog: SPCA

PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY — A 66-year-old Port Jefferson Station man was charged with animal cruelty after he brought his dog to a vet emaciated and covered in painful sores, Suffolk County Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Chief Roy Gross said.

On July 1, the SPCA received a complaint from a veterinarian in Brookhaven Town regarding a case of extreme neglect involving a 15-year-old female Pit Bull Terrier, "Coca," that was brought in extremely emaciated, and unable to rise or walk, according to Gross.

There were significant ulcerated wounds all over body, notably in her stomach and groin area, he said in a news release, adding, that there was foul odor from her open ulcerations that covered her stomach and groin area and her paws were red with irritation.

The dog had overgrown nails that curled, creating painful, open oozing wounds, and fur was missing from a significant portion, and she ended up having to be "humanely euthanized by the hospital due to the extreme pain as a result of her condition," he said.

The reporting veterinarian stated it was one of the worst neglect cases she had ever examined, according to Gross.

On July 6, at around 10 a.m., detectives responded to the man's home and with the assistance of the police department’s 7th Precinct uniform patrol, "Coca" was exhumed and a forensic necropsy performed by Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center Pathologists in Ithaca, he said.

After an extensive investigation, the man was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.

He is scheduled to appear in First District Court in Central Islip on Oct. 3.

Gross said that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Suffolk.

He encouraged anyone who witnessed any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in the county to contact the SPCA at 631-382-7722.