Dog beaten with broom handle
Vineland, NJ (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Mar 19, 2007
County: Cumberland

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Mark Hooven

The 5-year-old miniature dachshund reportedly beaten with a broom handle March 19 is back home and on the mend.

A police report indicated the dog, named Nicko, suffered a broken back left foot, internal bleeding, severe bruising of the body and hemorrhaging in his eyes.

Nicko belongs to Michael C. Capizola of Juniper Street. Capizola is the son of Vineland attorney Michael D. Capizola.

Mark Hooven, 23, of Caloris Avenue in Millville was charged with animal abuse in the incident. Hooven is reportedly a friend of Michael C. Capizola's daughter.

Capizola and his wife were on vacation and left their home in the care of Stephen Dalesandro, 19, a family friend. It was Dalesandro who found the dog wedged in a fence and bleeding from its mouth and nose when he arrived at the home at 2:30 p.m. March 19, according to police. Dalesandro told police he encountered Hooven in the driveway, and Hooven told him the dog was fed, and left immediately.

The dog was reportedly transported to South Jersey Veterinary Emergency Service in Linwood.

When contacted by police, Hooven allegedly stated that he was unaware of the injury to the animal. He said he was at the house March 19 and found that the dog had defecated in several places inside the home so he took him outside and hosed him off. Hooven said he was leaving when he encountered Dalessandro.

Capizola reportedly told police there is a doggie door in the laundry room that Nicko uses daily and the dog has never defecated in the house. A broken broom handle with bloodstains was found in a closet and there were bite marks on the handle and lower plastic section. Capizola said he found blood splatter on walls in an area where fecal matter and urine stains were visible.

Cumberland County SPCA director Bev Greco said Thursday she has not been notified of a court date for Hooven.

References

• The Daily Journal - Mar 30, 2007

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