Puppy swung around by leash, videotaped - New York, NY

Sunday, May 22, 2011

County: New York

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Irving Sanchez

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

An East Harlem man was arrested and charged with animal cruelty after being caught on security camera brutally attacking a pit bull puppy inside his building's elevator, police said.

The dog's owner, Irving Sanchez, 46, who lives in the building, was arrested Monday and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, officials said. Sanchez has nine prior arrests for drug possession.

Irving Sanchez, 46, of East Harlem, was riding inside the elevator in the Wagner Houses public housing complex at 2370 First Ave. around 9 p.m. Sunday night when he was caught on camera swinging a brown-and-white puppy named Max around by its leash, according to the video released by the NYPD.

Sanchez can be seen slamming the cowering pup into the metal walls of the elevator, whipping it with the leash end across his face, kicking it, and backing it against the door. The dog in turn cowers.

His wife told Eyewitness News that she is disabled and Max is her service dog. She says the accusations are completely inconsistent with the gentle and kind husband she knows.

She said her husband walks Max, feeds Max and even let's max sleep in their bed.

The puppy, named Max, survived the attack and is being cared for by Animal Care and Control. He is expected to be offered for adoption at some point.

Warning: Graphic Video

Case Updates

Max, the pit bull puppy who gained the nation's sympathy after a video showed him being brutally abused by his owner in an East Harlem elevator - is finally free. Tails were wagging yesterday as the 1-year-old pup left the Manhattan Animal Care & Control shelter, where he has been since May, when his owner, Irving Sanchez, was arrested for animal cruelty. Max was headed to the Glen Wild Animal Sanctuary, in upstate Sullivan County. "It's all about trust and positive reinforcement," said Glen Wild founder Liz Keller, a former AC&C shelter manager who has rehabilitated many abused dogs that were pulled from shelters. "The main component is to let him know he is loved and safe and he will never be hurt again," she added. In an effort to put Max's worst days behind him, Keller has renamed him Naja - a cobra used by the pharaohs as a symbol of their power over life and death. Meanwhile, news of his release brought a sigh of relief for thousands of Max's champions who feared he would be euthanized if nobody came to his rescue. Urgent pleas to save him were posted on Facebook, where Max amassed 3,400 friends. ACC Executive Director Julie Bank said Max was on an "at-risk" list sent out to rescuers, but was not in danger of being euthanized. Every year, thousands of animals are euthanized at the city shelter, simply for lack of space or too few people to adopt them. The majority of them are pit bulls. Bank said shelter staff actively appealed to New Hope partners to place the dog outside the shelter. But Max was listed as having "questionable behavior" and no rescue group stepped in. Most are already at capacity and could not take in an aggressive dog. But Jeff Coltenback, who runs Pitty Rescue in Bloomfield, N.J., evaluated Max at the shelter this week and described him as a playful pup with a few issues that could be corrected. "I was ripping toys out of his mouth and he just wanted to play," he said, noting that frightened dogs will often act aggressive in the shelter. Many are very adoptable, if someone would only give them a chance. Keller said, "When a dog comes along that touches so many people's hearts, they need to hold onto that feeling and continue to help the others." For now, she has high hopes for Naja. Once trained, Keller hopes to incorporate him into a therapeutic program she runs at the Sgt. Henry Johnson Youth Leadership Academy, a limited-security facility in South Kortright, N.Y. There, a dozen at-risk New York City boys between ages 13 and 18, are each paired with a shelter dog that they help train using positive reinforcement. The boys help to rehabilitate dogs that have been deemed unadoptable so they can find a new home. In turn, working with the dogs helps the teens deal with feelings of isolation and depression, and instills a sense of accomplishment and pride. While Naja is getting accustomed to his newfound freedom, his former owner remains behind bars. The Manhattan district attorney's office said Sanchez, 46, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in July and was sentenced last month to six months in jail. Glen Wild Animal Rescue relies strictly on donations and the kindness of animal lovers to keep the sanctuary going. Donations to help care for Naja can be sent to P.O. Box 75, South Kortright, N.Y. 13842, or through the group's Web site, Source: nydailynews.com - Sep 3, 2011 Update posted on Sep 3, 2011 - 12:54PM

References

• - May 23, 2011 - May 23, 2011

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