'Operation Bloodhound' Yields Results In War Against Animal Abuse: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced, on Tuesday, the "first round" of results from the "Operation Bloodhound" initiative.

The ongoing collaboration between the DA’s biological, environmental, and animal safety team (BEAST) and the Suffolk County Police Department is meant to ensure that all laws and court mandates pertaining to animal cruelty prosecutions are strictly enforced, the DA said.

As part of the operation, members of law enforcement have engaged in dozens of compliance actions against individuals who either had been accused of or had previously been convicted of animal cruelty-related offenses, Tierney said.

The Suffolk County Police Department’s warrant squad also assisted in the apprehension of multiple defendants who had active warrants for not showing up to court to face charges of alleged animal neglect or abuse, Tierney said.

BEAST detectives arrested four convicted animal abusers for failing to renew their registration for Suffolk County’s Animal Abuse Offender Registry, as required by Suffolk County Local Law, Tierney said. Three of those four defendants had pleaded to engaging in dogfighting in their prior case, the DA said.

BEAST detectives also conducted numerous unannounced spot-check visits of defendants’ homes to ensure that they were in compliance with their criminal court sentences or orders, the DA said.

During one of the visits, a Calverton woman was found in possession of eight dogs and was arrested and charged with eight counts of criminal contempt for violating a court order that prohibited her from possessing additional animals while her animal cruelty case was pending, the DA said.

Additionally, a Mastic Beach man was arrested and charged with four counts of criminal contempt after investigators found him in possession of four cats — in violation of a court order that prohibited him from owning or possessing animals for 10 years after a conviction on a prior animal neglect case, Tierney said. That defendant was also charged with not registering for the Suffolk County’s Animal Abuse Offender Registry, Tierney said.

Suffolk County police officers apprehended two defendants on outstanding warrants for absconding from pending criminal proceedings and charged them with additional bail jumping charges on top of their original cruelty charges, the DA said.

One of those people had allegedly stolen a kitten from the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation and then attempted to kick the arresting officers, Tierney said.

Detectives also located a defendant with an active warrant for animal abandonment at a detention center in Virginia, the DA said.

Numerous other defendants that were checked during the enforcement initiative were found to be in compliance with court orders or the conditions of their probationary sentences, the DA said.

Anyone convicted of specific animal cruelty offenses must annually register with the Suffolk County Police Department and pay a fee, Tierney reminded.

Operation Bloodhound is ongoing, and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and Suffolk County Police Department will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that court orders and sentences related to animal cruelty are being complied with, and that additional defendants with active warrants are apprehended, Tierney vowed.

"Our fight to enforce laws against animal cruelty is not confined to courtroom walls," said Tierney. "We will work to ensure that defendants who disregard court orders and court appearances are found and brought to justice."

Tierney thanked the Suffolk County Police Department warrant squad, "in particular ,for helping to make 'Operation Bloodhound’ a sustained and impactful success."

"It is up to law enforcement to ensure defenseless animals who have no voice are protected, especially from those who have no right to own them," said Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Robert Waring. "This important initiative ensures compliance of animal abusers, and I commend the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the department’s warrant enforcement section officers for their efforts in this ongoing operation."

Residents can report animal abuse, neglect, or illegal possession of an exotic or dangerous animal in Suffolk County via the county's website. Always call 911 in the event of an emergency, the DA said.

If you have any information regarding the location of a defendant who has an active warrant, call Crimestoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.