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Case Snapshot

Case ID: 16670

Classification: Beating, Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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Attorneys/Judges

Prosecutor(s):	Bridget Scholl
Defense(s):	Christine Cook
Judge(s):	Tony Aloi, William Walsh

Images for this Case

all 2 media files »

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CONVICTED: Was justice served?

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Case #16670 Rating: 1.7 out of 5

Puppy severely beaten, jaw detached
Syracuse, NY (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010
County: Onondaga

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Reginald J Stepp

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

The CNY SPCA investigators are trying to determine how a puppy's jaw was nearly severed.

Rockford, a six- to eight-month-old pit bull, was found Tuesday by employees at Absolute Auto and Audio, in Fulton, in the van of a customer who came in to get new wheels, according to store manager Rachel Dean.

"The jaw was literally hanging from the dogs head," Dean said. "It was only held on by skin. ... The bones were completely severed off the dog."

Dean said the van owner, Reginald Stepp, who has been a customer at the auto shop for more than three years, told her that the employee should not worry about the dog in the car because "there is something wrong with his jaw, he can't bite."

The manager said she started to cry when she saw the dog.

Dean said she told Stepp the dog needed immediate medical attention. Stepp said he had an appointment with the veterinarian that afternoon, Dean said. Dean called the police and animal control and was given permission by the authorities and Stepp to take the dog to Fruit Valley Veterinarian Clinic in Oswego.

In addition to the jaw injury, the veterinarian found the dog had previously suffered broken bones in his left leg that hadn't been treated, Dean said.

So far, the auto shop has helped raise more than $3,100 to help pay for Rockford's medical bills. Donations to help with Rockford's medical expenses have come from Arizona, California and soldiers fighting in Iraq, said the clinic.

Case Updates

References

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

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