Puppy dehydrated, anemic and starving
Bronx, NY (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Jun 23, 2008
County: Bronx

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Johnny Monserrate

Monday, June 23, ASPCA Special Agent Debbie Koch arrested John Monserrate, 30, in front of his Bronx home. Monserrate brought his 10-week-old male pit bull, Trux, to BMAH in late April, and veterinarians immediately recognized that the pup was dehydrated and starving. Trux also exhibited a below-normal body temperature, anemia and untreated wounds on his paw pads and rear legs. He was taken into ASPCA custody and received lifesaving medical care.

"When Trux came in, he weighed 5.9 pounds," says Dr. Robert Reisman, Medical Coordinator of Animal Cruelty Cases at BMAH. "After one month in our care, his weight increased to 16 pounds. That's a 171-percent increase-more than double the typical 50- to 75-percent growth rate for a healthy puppy his age. This proves that Trux had been underfed, and I have no doubt that he was critically ill when he came to us."

Monserrate voluntarily relinquished ownership of his dog to the ASPCA, and shelter staffers anticipate that Trux will be made available for adoption in the near future.

References

• ASPCA - July 4, 2008

« NY State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Bronx County, NY

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.