Animal abuse continues to be a prevalent issue in Nassau County. Many cases are shown in local news outlets; however, many abusers often go uncharged or are given small punishments.
Various agencies in the county are beginning to crack down these crimes, such as The Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NC SPCA) located in Bethpage. This organization upholds the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law to charge animal abusers.
According to the Nassau County SPCA, there were 1,848 calls so far this year, 745 investigations, 14 arrests, and 1,032 lives were saved.
Some of these violent crimes against animals include the discovery of seven deceased pit bulls in trash bags in Hempstead. The NC SPCA recently increased their original $5,000 reward to $6,000 for anyone with information that could lead to a conviction for the individual responsible for this act. It states on their website, “Rewards encourage the public to speak up against animal cruelty and let animal abusers know that the public will not stay quiet.”
Nassau County Animal Control brought 18-year-old resident Michael Bennett to justice in late august of this year. Bennett had left his dog and nine of her puppies in his home after the electricity had been cut. Nassau County Animal Control found and seized Bennett’s eleven dogs following a neighbor’s call about one of the dogs roaming around the neighborhood. Bennett was then arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty.
Jamie of The Pet Store Next Door located next to the Brookville Animal Hospital in Glen Head, has seen instances of animal abuse, whether pets are being brought to be groomed or treated. Many owners allow their pets to become matted and develop skin diseases because they are afraid to brush them if they appear to be matted. They wait to get their pet professionally groomed instead of attempting to do it themselves. “They think that’s the right thing to do,” said Jamie. “But that’s actually abuse because they’re making [their pets] uncomfortable and get all kinds of skin conditions.” Animal lovers such as Jamie believe that punishments for animal abuse need to be greater because, “It takes a lot sicker of a person to hurt an animal that it does to hurt a human.”