 Pit bull severely emaciated
Staten Island, NY (US)Date: Jan 6, 2006
County: Richmond
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Shellyann Koonjisingh
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She feeds people for a living but she didn't bother to feed her dog, authorities say.
Now Shellyann Koonjisingh, a 23-year-old mother of two from West Brighton, faces a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge because she let her 2-year-old pit bull get so thin, his ribs showed through his fur, authorities allege.
Ms. Koonjisingh was arrested Feb 8, 2006, a month after an agent for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rescued "Clyde," a brindle male pit bull, from the backyard of her home on North Burgher Avenue, ASPCA Special Agent Joseph Pentangelo said.
Pentangelo didn't know where the dog's owner worked -- she told authorities she cooked for a social services agency, he said, and several neighbors said she worked for a community residence in the area.
Clyde weighed only 39 pounds, was burning muscle for energy because he had used up all his body fat, was dehydrated and had developed mange, Pentangelo said.
The dog is doing better under ASPCA care -- he gained 9 pounds in three weeks, and is being treated for his skin condition, Pentangelo said.
Ms. Koonjisingh, meanwhile, remained in police custody at the North Shore's 120th Precinct Headquarters, and was scheduled to be arraigned today in Stapleton Criminal Court.
The ASPCA first learned of Clyde's plight on Jan. 6, when a neighbor called in a tip.
"When the ASPCA came, the dog couldn't even jump up," said the neighbor, who didn't want to give her name. "I didn't mean for her to get arrested. I felt bad for that dog."
The dog had belonged to Ms. Koonjisingh's former boy friend, the neighbor said; he left the dog behind when he departed several months ago.
"She's a pretty good person, but she should have taken care of that dog," the neighbor said.
Another neighbor said she had given Ms. Koonjisingh dog food after seeing how skinny Clyde had become.
When ASPCA Special Agent Paul Romano arrived at Ms. Koonjisingh's townhouse complex, he found Clyde outside, in the fenced-in backyard. Ms. Koonjisingh wasn't home, so he had to bring the dog over the fence to rescue him. The ASPCA tested Clyde, and found no illnesses or medical reasons why the dog had become so thin.
"His weight loss was due to the fact that he was simply being starved," Pentangelo said.
Ms. Koonjisingh signed away responsibility for the dog after her arrest, Pentangelo said.
As to why she didn't take care of Clyde, Pentangelo said, "She made no statements to us. She was not forthcoming about the dog, or how it got in that condition."
Ms. Koonjisingh arranged for someone to look after her two children prior to her arrest, Pentangelo said. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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