Dog starved nearly to death
Mastic, NY (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007
County: Suffolk
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: William J. Winters
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Mastic man nearly starved his cocker spaniel to death, and then tried to abandon the animal at a town animal shelter, claiming it was a stray, Suffolk police said yesterday.
Suffolk County police arrested the owner, William Winters, 31, yesterday and charged him with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and second-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a misdemeanor. The felony carries a maximum sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison.
Police said Winters abandoned the ailing Bailey, a 3-year-old black spaniel mix, at the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter, claiming it was a homeless mutt who'd wandered across his path. But when shelter workers examined Bailey, who was too emaciated to walk, something about the story didn't add up.
"The dog wasn't ambulatory, it couldn't really move around," said Det. Sgt. John Best of the Seventh Precinct in Shirley. "They felt that, wherever it was found, it must have been close to where it lived."
After questioning neighbors, town and county investigators confronted Winters, who finally admitted that Bailey belonged to him, police said.
The dog is in stable condition, according to police, and is expected to fully recover at the Brookhaven Town Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. Winters spent the night in police custody at the precinct and is to be arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip today.
Case UpdatesWilliam Winters had taken an emaciated dog to the Brookhaven Animal Shelter in March and claimed he was a stray, but shelter workers were suspicious because of his condition, according to Suffolk County police.
"They felt that, wherever it was found, it must have been close to where it lived," Detective Sgt. John Best said.
Bailey "couldn't walk, couldn't lift its head, couldn't do anything," shelter director Charlie McGinley said.
After an investigation, McGinley said, Winters admitted he owned the dog. Another dog on the property was in good health, he said.
Bailey was taken to an animal hospital and is now back at the shelter continuing his recovery.
"He weighed 19 pounds, all ribs," when he first arrived, McGinley said. "He gained five pounds in the first few days. They had to hold up his head so he could eat."
Bailey is now a robust 36 pounds, and should be available for adoption soon. | Source: Newsday.com - May 21, 2007
Update posted on Jun 1, 2007 - 10:00PM |
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