An employee at the city's Administration for Children's Services is charged with animal cruelty after police say he left his terminally ill dog out in the cold for weeks. The ASPCA says 55-year-old David Owens was arrested on February 18, 2006 for leaving his Akita in his backyard, covered only by a sheet of plastic. Neighbors heard the dog's howling for hours and called the authorities. The dog was suffering from cancer, and agents found him covered in urine and mud and unable to walk.
"A dog of that age � who has obviously lived with the owner his entire life � it would just seem to be more appropriate to have a different time of ending than lying in the back yard in the cold and just be terminally ill, and just covered with a cloth and not provided the most minimal comfort," said ASPCA Special Agent Joe Pentangelo. The ASPCA says doctors tried to treat the dog, but couldn't even get his temperature because he was so cold. He was put to sleep a few days later.
If convicted, Owens, who works in personnel for the ACS, could face up to a year in prison for neglecting his pet. Case UpdatesDavid Owens, the 55-year-old man arrested on February 11 for leaving his ailing dog outside under a plastic wrapping, was formally arraigned the next day. He was charged with overriding, torturing and injuring an animal and with failure to provide proper sustenance for an animal. The next court date is set for March 16.
Officers found the dog in the backyard of Owens� State Street residence in Brooklyn Heights. The dog had �blood all around it, covered in wet plastic,� said a spokesman for the District Attorney�s Office. After several days in an ASPCA hospital, the dog reportedly had to be put down.
Brooklyn Judge John H. Wilson presided at the arraignment and Assistant District Attorney Carolea Goldfarb has the prosecutor�s case file. A defense lawyer had not been assigned as of Friday. No bail was set and Owens was released on his own recognizance. | Source: Brooklyn Eagle - Feb 22, 2006
Update posted on Mar 6, 2006 - 2:18PM |
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