Case Snapshot
Case ID: 2644
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (pit-bull)
More cases in Kings County, NY
More cases in NY
Person(s) in animal care
Login to Watch this Case

New features are coming soon. Login with Facebook to get an early start and help us test them out!



For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.



Thursday, Aug 19, 2004

County: Kings

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Benjamin Muniz

A veterinary technician for New York city's Center for Animal Care and Control was arrested August 19, 2004 for the killing a pit-bull pup by starving him to death in October 2003 - except for the chewed-up sneaker found in the dead dog's stomach, officials stated.

The ASPCA says Benjamin Muniz, 29 of Sunset Park, took an American staffordshire terrier named Hercules home with him in July 2003 but refused to get the dog neutered.

Muniz then allegedly called his employer on October 27th and said the dog had died.

When ASPCA representatives showed up at his Sunset Park home, they found the once-vigorous pup had withered away.

It appeared as though Hercules had been dead for several days before Muniz informed anyone.

In the time he was under Muniz's care, Hercules went from 80 pounds to about 40 pounds, officials stated.  A post-mortem found nothing in the animal's stomach except a sneaker.

Muniz was arrested by ASPCA police and charged with one count of animal cruelty, which
is punishable by up to one year in prison. Muniz has been suspended from the New York city's Center for Animal Care and Control.

References

  • « NY State Animal Cruelty Map
    « More cases in Kings 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.