Putnam SPCA Arrests Bronx Man Accused Of Abandoning Dog In Carmel

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — A month after a dog was found tied to a pole in Carmel, a Bronx resident has been charged with animal abandonment, Putnam County SPCA officials announced Friday.

A Putnam County deputy sheriff found the 7-year-old hound on Oct. 30 and called the SPCA.

The dog was taken to the Putnam Humane Society where it was scanned for a microchip. SPCA detectives used microchip information, an eyewitness account, and surveillance video retrieved from the area to identify a suspect.

Juan Rosa, 36, was contacted by PCSPCA officers and eventually turned himself in. Rosa came to the PCSPCA headquarters on Gleneida Avenue on Thursday and was charged with the crime of Abandonment of an Animal under the NYS Agriculture & Markets Laws.

Animal Abandonment is a misdemeanor crime with the possibility of up to one year in jail, a fine up to $1000, or a combination of both.

"We’ve seen an increase this year in animal abandonments," SPCA Chief Ken Ross said in a statement. "It is a crime taken seriously and we will conduct a criminal investigation and ultimately arrest the individual who abandoned the animal. If you can no longer keep your pet, contact the many rescue groups that exist. Abandonment is not an option."