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Case #6250 Rating: 1.2 out of 5
5 month old puppy beaten to death
New York, NY (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 30, 2005
County: New York
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Oleg Zhdanov
Case Updates: 5 update(s) available
On November 23, 2005, a Manhattan man was arrested for beating to death a small mixed-breed dog he had adopted from an animal shelter, officials said.
Oleg Zhdanov, 35, was arrested and charged with one count of felony animal cruelty for the death of Lelu, a 15-pound mixed terrier, said special agent Joseph Pentangelo of the ASPCA. Zhdanov had adopted Lelu from the North Shore Animal League in Port Washington earlier this year, and by June, the small animal required a number of visits to the veterenarian for injuries, Pentangelo said.
When ASPCA investigators visited Zhdanov in July, he reported that the animal had died but could not identify where he had buried the remains, according to Pentangelo. Zhdanov gave a statement to investigators admitting that he caused the death of the animal, Pentangelo said.
A law enforcement official who asked not to be identified said earlier medical examination of Lelu showed that the small animal had suffered from "cauliflower" ears, indicating it had been hit on the head.
Case UpdatesA convicted puppy killer banned from having any pets but fish has been busted for consorting with two exotic cats - including a $2,000 miniature Bengali tiger.
The cats are in the custody of the ASPCA, and Oleg Zhdanov is charged with violating probation and could face up to a year in jail.
"Those cats were in plain view," said ASPCA Assistant Director Joseph Pentangelo.
Zhdanov, 35, pleaded guilty last year in Manhattan Supreme Court to animal cruelty for fatally beating his 15-pound, 5-month-old mixed Lab.
In January, he was sentenced to three years' probation and forbidden from keeping any animals except his collection of tropical fish.
The ASPCA conducted a raid last Monday after a tip that cats could be seen through the window of the W. 56th St. apartment Zhdanov shared with his girlfriend, Tanya Becker.
Becker claimed Zhdanov didn't live there any longer, and another man who rents a room in the apartment said the cats were his.
Suspicious ASPCA agents returned the next day and this time found Zhdanov in the apartment, along with Tommy, the tiger cat, and Rocko, a rare Snowshoe.
When the agents grilled the roommate, he produced a receipt showing he purchased Tommy in 2003 from a Web site, Junglebeat.com, for $2,000. He said he got Rocko from a shelter and had no idea that Zhdanov had pleaded guilty to animal cruelty.
The ASPCA agents took Tommy and Rocko for safekeeping. They left the fish.
"The cats are healthy," said Pentangelo. "They showed no sign of abuse or neglect. But they can't cohabitate with the defendant."
A neighbor who requested anonymity said Zhdanov deserves to be caged.
"Now he has totally disrespected the judge, the court and the ASPCA," the neighbor said. "The judge should put him in jail."
Jack Ryan, a spokesman for the city Department of Probation, said Zhdanov will be notified this week that he has violated the terms of his probation. | Source: New York Daily News - Aug 12, 2007
Update posted on Aug 12, 2007 - 10:51PM |
A Manhattan man arrested in 2005 for beating his dog to death was sentenced to three years' probation on March 6, 2007.
Oleg Zhdamov, aka Oleg Zhdanov, was initially charged with felony animal cruelty for the death of Lelu, a 15-pound mixed terrier, said special agent Joseph Pentangelo of the ASPCA. Zhdamov had adopted Lelu from the North Shore Animal League in Port Washington. Within months the vet treating the animal became suspicious of the animal's repeated injuries and called authorities.
According to the officers, Zhdamov made statements indicating he had beaten the dog to death. He reportedly confessed he beat Lelu because his girlfriend was "stressing him out".
Zhdamov pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge in Manhattan Supreme Court on January 16, 2007.
The judge banned him from owning another dog - but said fish were okay - while he serves three years' probation. The defendant's 45-day jail sentence was not imposed due to his alleged medical problems. | Source: Indictment # 02046-2006
Update posted on Mar 9, 2007 - 2:47PM |
A judge banned a Manhattan puppy killer yesterday from owning another dog - but said fish were okay - while he serves three years' probation for animal cruelty.
Oleg Zhdanov, 35, pleaded guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court to charges he beat to death his 5-month-old Labrador mix, Lelu, but begged a judge to let him hang on to his aquarium.
Justice Edward McLaughlin let Zhdanov keep his fish after prosecutors agreed they are not "companion animals."
"Poor fish," a law enforcement source said. "Why do they have to suffer?"
Zhdanov also asked the judge to waive a 45-day jail sentence, contending he can't do the time because he is physically disabled and his wife is mentally disabled.
The judge said he would consider allowing Zhdanov to skip jail if he gets written confirmation of the ailments from a doctor before his March 6 sentencing.
Zhdanov was charged in November 2005 with killing his puppy after a vet treating the animal became suspicious of the animal's repeated injuries and called authorities. | Source: NY Daily News - Jan 18, 2007
Update posted on Jan 18, 2007 - 12:29PM |
Puppy-killer Oleg Zhdamov will likely avoid jail time after being charged with punching and kicking his 5-month-old dog to death.
Zhdamov, 35, of Manhattan, was originally facing two years in the slammer on a felony animal-cruelty charge in 2005, but yesterday pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.
Zhdamov now faces 45 days in jail - or possibly three years' probation if he provides evidence that he has health problems, a spokesman for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said.
Zhdamov confessed he beat Lelu, a Lab mix, because his girlfriend was stressing him out, a source said. | Source: New York Post - Jan 17, 2007
Update posted on Jan 18, 2007 - 12:39AM |
An unemployed Manhattan man who authorities said admitted to killing his 5-month-old puppy was arraigned Friday on a felony animal cruelty charge.
Oleg Zhdanov, 35, was arrested at his West 56th Street apartment at 8 p.m. Wednesday after he said things "that led us to believe he was responsible for the death of the dog," said Joseph Pentangelo, a special agent for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"He made statements saying he had beaten the dog to death," Pentangelo said. Authorities said Zhdanov made the admissions in writing and on videotape.
Zhdanov was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, according to Barbara Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney's office.
The ASPCA began investigating a report that the 6-pound pup appeared to have been abused in July. A veterinarian, Dr. Maureen Walsh, told investigators that the dog had a broken hip and swollen ears, injuries that are often signs of abuse.
ASPCA agents went to Zhdanov's apartment on July 6 and were told by Zhdanov's companion, Tanya Becker, 48, that the Labrador mix, named Lelu, was dead and had been buried upstate, Pentangelo said. He said she claimed not to know how Lelu died.
Pentangelo said Becker told agents she worked in a pet store, Creature Features, while Zhdanov "characterized himself as unemployed."
The suspect would not say exactly where the puppy was buried. "Mr. Zhdanov was not forthcoming about giving the location of this or any other dogs," Pentangelo said.
A neighborhood doorman and other witnesses told the ASPCA they saw Zhdanov hitting and kicking the dog, Pentangelo said. The ASPCA said Zhdanov was charged with a felony count of animal cruelty and faces up to four years in prison if convicted.
Pentangelo said the case would be presented to a grand jury next week.
Calls to a telephone number for Becker seeking comment were not returned. A telephone listing for a lawyer for Zhadanov could not be found Friday night.
Agents of the Humane Law Enforcement Division of the ASPCA, which investigates crimes against animals, are authorized to execute warrants and carry firearms. | Source: New York Newsday - Nov 25, 2005
Update posted on Nov 27, 2005 - 11:59AM |
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