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Animal Abuse

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METRO photo

Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R – 18th L.D.) sponsored a resolution titled “Adopting Local Law No. -2025, A Local Law to Further Protect Animals from Persons Convicted of an Animal Abuse Crime.” The resolution was unanimously passed at the Legislature’s General Meeting on April 8th at the Legislature.

This local law amends the Suffolk County Code to establish a misdemeanor penalty for individuals on the convicted animal abuser registry who are found to be owning animals in violation of Suffolk County Code Sec. 229-28(F). 

In 2010, the Suffolk County Legislature enacted legislation to create the animal abuse registry, one of the first of its kind in the United States. Any Suffolk County resident aged 18 or older who is convicted of animal abuse is required to register their name, address, and photo with the registry. The registry is maintained on the Suffolk County Police website. Individuals must remain on the registry for 10 years and are prohibited from owning animals during this period.

The Suffolk County SPCA approached Legislator Bontempi to request this code amendment, highlighting a loophole in the current County code. The code did not impose any penalties on individuals listed on the Animal Abuse Registry, who were found to possess animals in violation of the County code. By passing this local law to strengthen the code, any individual who is required to register and is found to possess an animal in violation of section 229-28(F) will be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and will face penalties associated with that class of crime.

“We often hear about cases of animal abuse in the news, and it’s sickening to witness. Animals cannot advocate for themselves, so our elected officials must speak up on their behalf. In Suffolk County, we will not tolerate the abuse or neglect of animals. By closing this loophole, we will ensure that those who disregard the law face consequences,” said Leg. Bontempi.

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Photos courtesy of Suffolk County SPCA
Meatloaf. Photo from Suffolk County SPCA
Meatloaf. Photo from Suffolk County SPCA
Meatloaf. Photo from Suffolk County SPCA

On November 5, 2024, a male bully mix with brindle coloring was brought to the Smithtown Animal Shelter with extensive injuries, including what appeared to be chemical burns and infected wounds. Named “Meatloaf” by the shelter staff, the dog was found wandering on Croft Lane near Creek Road in Smithtown.

A Good Samaritan found the injured dog and dropped him off at the Smithtown Animal Shelter for care. Unfortunately Meatloaf injuries were too extreme so he did not survive. 

The Suffolk County SPCA is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for this heinous act of animal cruelty.

SPCA detectives are actively investigating this case and urge anyone with information about Meatloaf’s injuries or the circumstances that led to his condition and ultimate death to come forward.

If you have any information, please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-7722. Reports can be made anonymously.

The Suffolk County SPCA reminds the public that intentional harm to animals is against the law in New York. Together, we can ensure that justice is served and prevent further acts of cruelty against animals in our community.

Chief Gross emphasized that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Suffolk County: “If you witness any act of animal cruelty or neglect, please report it immediately to the Suffolk County SPCA. Together, we can ensure justice for these innocent animals.”

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

If you have any information, please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-7722.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Jan. 7 a first round of results from “Operation Bloodhound,” which is an ongoing initiative between the DA’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) and the Suffolk County Police Department. The joint law enforcement venture is to ensure that all laws and court mandates pertaining to animal cruelty prosecutions are strictly enforced.

As part of the operation, members of law enforcement engaged in dozens of compliance actions against individuals who either had been accused of or had previously been convicted of animal cruelty-related offenses. The Suffolk County Police Department’s Warrant Squad additionally assisted in the apprehension of multiple defendants who had active warrants for not showing up to court to face charges of alleged animal neglect or abuse.

“Our fight to enforce laws against animal cruelty is not confined to courtroom walls,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will work to ensure that defendants who disregard court orders and court appearances are found and brought to justice. I want to thank the Suffolk County Police Department Warrant Squad in particular for helping to make ‘Operation Bloodhound’ a sustained and impactful success.”

“It is up to law enforcement to ensure defenseless animals who have no voice are protected especially from those who have no right to own them,” said Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Robert Waring. “This important initiative ensures compliance of animal abusers, and I commend the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the department’s Warrant Enforcement Section officers for their efforts in this ongoing operation.”

BEAST detectives arrested four convicted animal abusers for failing to renew their registration for Suffolk County’s Animal Abuse Offender Registry, as required by Suffolk County Local Law. Three of those four defendants had pleaded to engaging in dogfighting in their prior case.

BEAST detectives also conducted numerous unannounced spot-check visits of defendants’ homes to ensure that they were in compliance with their criminal court sentences or orders. During one of the visits, a Calverton woman was found in possession of eight dogs and was accordingly arrested for eight counts of criminal contempt for violating a court order that prohibited her from possessing additional animals while her animal cruelty case was pending. Additionally, a Mastic Beach man was arrested for four counts of criminal contempt after investigators found him in possession of four cats in violation of a court order that prohibited him from owning or possessing animals for 10 years after a conviction on a prior animal neglect case. That defendant was also charged with not registering for the Suffolk County’s Animal Abuse Offender Registry.

Suffolk County police officers apprehended two defendants on outstanding warrants for absconding from pending criminal proceedings and charged them with additional bail jumping charges on top of their original cruelty charges. One of these defendants had allegedly stolen a kitten from the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation and then attempted to kick the arresting officers. Detectives also located a defendant with an active warrant for animal abandonment at a detention center in Virginia.

Numerous other defendants that were checked during this enforcement initiative were found to be in compliance with court orders or the conditions of their probationary sentences.

Anyone convicted of specific animal cruelty offenses must annually register with the Suffolk County Police Department and pay a fee.

Operation Bloodhound is ongoing, and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and Suffolk County Police Department will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that court orders and sentences related to animal cruelty are being complied with, and that additional defendants with active warrants are apprehended.

These cases are being prosecuted by the Assistant District Attorneys assigned to the Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST), under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Jed L. Painter and Brooke Salvatore.

Report animal abuse, neglect, or illegal possession of an exotic or dangerous animal in Suffolk County via our Website. Always call 911 in the event of an emergency.

If you have any information regarding the location of a defendant who has an active warrant, please call Crimestoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

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Peter Minichello

Peter Minichello Pleaded Guilty in June to Killing Five-Year-Old Chihuahua-Mix Dog

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Peter Minichello, 22, of West Islip, was sentenced to four months in jail followed by five years of probation and received a lifetime ban on owning animals after pleading guilty to beating his aunt’s five-year-old Chihuahua-mix dog named “Pup-Pup,” resulting in severe physical injuries that caused its death.

“What this defendant put an innocent animal through is as shocking as it is deplorable,” said District Attorney Tierney. “A dog’s love is unconditional, and my heart goes out to the defendant’s aunt who lost a beloved companion.”

Pup-Pup

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on July 6, 2022, Minichello was left home alone with Pup-Pup while his mother and aunt were at work. When Minichello’s aunt returned home, she saw Pup-Pup inside of his crate, not moving and covered in blood and bruises. When Minichello’s mother and aunt left earlier that morning for work, Pup-Pup was healthy and had no apparent injuries. The aunt sought medical attention for Pup-Pup, but he died days later.

Further investigation revealed that Pup-Pup sustained extensive injuries including multiple broken ribs, blunt force trauma to the head and body, and a penetrating wound to the elbow. He ultimately died due to a traumatic brain injury.

On June 13, 2024, Minichello pleaded guilty to all of charges contained within the indictment including Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a Class E felony, and Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, a Class E felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz.

On August 19, 2024, Justice Horowitz sentenced Minichello to four months in jail followed by five years of probation. Justice Horowitz also ordered that the defendant be banned from owning or possessing any animals for the rest of his life. Minichello was represented by Pierre Bazile, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Annemarie DiBlasio and Ashley Stapleton of the Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (“BEAST”), and the investigation was conducted by Detective Alexandra Breyer and the Suffolk County Police Department’s Third Squad.

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A photo of Jose Borgos who allegedly left dogs out in freezing temperatures. Photo from SCPD

More than 20 dogs were left out in the cold in Rocky Point until a local police officer saw them and took action.

Jose Borgos, a 52-year-old Rocky Point resident, allegedly left 21 Rottweilers out in freezing temperatures Nov. 22 at his house on Broadway. Seventh Precinct Officer Karen Grenia was on patrol when she heard dogs barking at about 10 a.m., according to a Suffolk County Police Department press release. The officer discovered the dogs in Borgos’ backyard, nine of which were found in travel crates in a shed.

Borgos, who identified to police as a dog breeder, was charged with 21 counts of violating the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law pertaining to appropriate shelter for dogs left outdoors, which requires dog owners to provide appropriate shelter to dogs existing out in inclement or harmful weather. He was also charged with 21 counts of violating Suffolk County code on outdoor restraint of animals, which prohibits dogs from being tethered outside when the temperature is below freezing.

Information on Borgos’ attorney has not yet been made available, and he was scheduled for arraignment at a later date.

The Town of Brookhaven Animal Control will determine the placement of the dogs, the police statement said.

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