Woman Accused of Leaving Animals to Starve to Death

A Mount Vernon woman has been charged with three counts of animal cruelty following the deaths of two pit bull puppies and a kitten that were left in an apartment without food or water for more than two months, according to the SPCA of Westchester.

SPCA of Westchester’s Humane Law Enforcement Division and Mount Vernon Police charged Irema Johnson, 31, of 273 W. Lincoln Ave. on Tuesday. 

“The puppies were left in a crate in the apartment with no food or water," said Ernest Lungaro, SPCA director of Humane Law Enforcement. "The living area was filled with garbage and animal feces. The kitten was left loose in the apartment with no food or water as well. The animals subsequently died of starvation.” 

Johnson, according to the SPCA, is accused of leaving the animals in her apartment on Monday, Feb. 11. Their carcasses were not discovered until Saturday, April 27. 

“This is one of the most heinous acts of animal cruelty in my tenure at the SPCA of Westchester,” said SPCA Executive Director Shannon Laukhuf. “Dying from dehydration and starvation is a drawn-out and painful death.” There were other options Ms. Johnson could have taken such as calling an animal shelter or eliciting the help of family and friends in order to have prevented this terrible tragedy.”

The SPCA urges anyone with information about animal abuse or neglect to call its confidential hotline at 914-941-7797. 

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