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Help eliminate animal crueltyBY STEPHEN J. BRONNERPete, a Bellerose resident and ex-cop, made his way to the Bronx three years ago after a pet cat had been pulled out of a first-story window and beaten to death with a metal chain. A concerned neighbor put in a call to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and Pete, a Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement, went to the scene of the crime.
Through “old-time gumshoe detective work,” the perpetrator was arrested and sentenced in May of this year to 12 months in prison for aggravated cruelty to animals as well as burglary for taking the cat off the window, said Pete, who did not give his full name due to safety concerns and open investigations. “You’re always going to find someone who knows something.” Aggravated cruelty to a companion animal has been a felony offense in New York State since 1999. Before then, animal cruelty was a misdemeanor offense. Anybody found guilty of either depriving a companion animal of food, water or shelter or overtly abusing an animal through beating, stabbing, shooting or throwing can face up to two years in prison. Those found guilty of forcing animals to fight can be incarcerated for up to four years, like football player Michael Vick, who was sentenced to 23 months in prison for dog fighting. “People are becoming more aware of animal cruelty,” said Joseph Pentangelo, Assistant Director of Humane Law Enforcement for the ASPCA. “People are surprised that they can be arrested for abusing an animal. Maybe people would think twice about their actions and examine them more.” The ASPCA has jurisdiction for animal cruelty cases in New York City and State. The New York Police Department (NYPD) also works on animal cruelty cases, and the two organizations have collaborated on many occasions, said Pentangelo, an ex-NYPD officer. In 2007, 15 people were arrested on animal cruelty charges in Queens, according to ASPCA statistics. The organization conducted 1,343 investigations in the borough. A year before, the ASPCA arrested 21 people and conducted 1,027 investigations. Queens accounts for about a fifth of the animal cruelty cases for the organization in the city. The ASPCA arrested Queens resident Christakis Panayi on July 9 for aggravated animal cruelty. Panayi claimed he tripped over his cat, Atosa, but agents discovered the 7-month-old white Persian endured a beating by its owner. Atosa’s jaw, three ribs and a hind leg were broken in the attack. Pentangelo said vets recently attempted to put pins into the leg, but the operation failed. The doctors decided to amputate the leg. Panayi could face up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine if convicted. ASPCA agents take abused animals to their own Manhattan facility. When lost animals, some of whom faced abuse, are found by city agents in Queens, they are taken to other boroughs. Queens does not have its own city-sponsored animal shelter, only a receiving center that does not keep animals. That might change soon, said Richard Gentles, Director of Development and Administrative Services for Animal Care and Control (AC&C). “A site has been found in Queens and they’re exploring possibilities for a shelter,” he said. The location might be on Queens Boulevard, but it won’t be built within a year, Gentles said. If an animal taken in by AC&C looks like it might have been the victim of abuse, the medical department takes it to determine the cause of its ills, Gentles said. If abuse is the cause, AC&C contacts ASPCA and/or the NYPD. AC&C might hold on to the animal for an extended period of time if a case is brought up. The animal might be used as evidence. Eventually the animal would either be returned to the owner if the case is dropped or it can be evaluated for adoption. Sometimes, abused animals can become violent, or “they can be submissive and appreciate that someone is taking care of them,” Gentles said. Due to AC&C’s policy of accepting every animal, many animals at their facilities end up being euthanized. “A Queens shelter would help alleviate the overcrowding at the Brooklyn shelter,” said Laura Miller, who works with Bobbi and the Strays, an Ozone Park-based no-kill animal rescue group. She said it would save many animals from being euthanized. Until then, Bobbi and the Strays will continue taking animals out of kill shelters. “We take animals off the street, take them out of situations that are harmful and out of kill shelters,” Miller said. We take “any animal that needs help.” The group has over 100 animals at one time, either at their location in the Kennedy Airport cargo area or at their storefront in the Shops at Atlas Park (which was donated to them). Bobbi Giordano, head of the group, said they find homes for “every one of them. Nothing is euthanized ever.” Over half of the animals Bobbi and the Strays takes in have been abused, Miller said. The group rehabilitates the animals until they can be adopted. “We really go the extra mile with them.” Giordano cut in, “an extra 10 miles,” she said. Bobbi and the Strays’ lease at their Kennedy Airport location is ending soon, and they are requesting donations of $1 in order to prevent the animals there from ending up on the street. Reporting animal cruelty is not only essential to save animals, but to stop crimes like domestic violence, said Dale Bartlett, Deputy Manager for Animal Cruelty Campaign at the Humane Society. “The type of people capable of cruelty towards animals are the criminal element,” he said. “Any community that fails to address animal cruelty really does so at their own peril. If people are arrested for animal cruelty you are pulling dangerous criminals off the street.” Bartlett added, “The most important thing is to report it and follow up with investigators.” Witnesses should report as many details as possible of the location, time and what happened, he said. New York City residents can report animal cruelty to the ASPCA by calling 212-876-7700 extension 4450. “Without people, animals would have no chance, they have no voice,” Pentangelo said. “You don’t have to have a pet, but when you do take that responsibility, you have to provide that animal with a certain level of care.” |
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of queenscourier.com.
Georgia wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:35 PM:
" Please print the web cite for donations for Bobby and the Strays! Hopefully thousands of NY and NJ residents will donate money to open this desperately needed animal shelter ASAP!
Animal Rescuers are angels, and all animals are innoccent, defenseless beings that humans should protect. "
Animal Rescuers are angels, and all animals are innoccent, defenseless beings that humans should protect. "
Stephen wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:48 PM:
" Their web site can be found at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=84044195 "
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