BRONX MAN WHO SLAMMED PUPPY TO FLOOR, INJURING HER LEG SO BADLY IT NEEDED TO BE AMPUTATED, WILL GET A YEAR IN JAIL

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Cruelty to an Animal; “Sally” Recovered from the Ordeal and Found a New Home

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced to a year in jail for abusing a puppy, including slamming her to the floor resulting in rendering one of her legs useless and causing it to be amputated. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant’s abuse of an eight-month old dog culminated in a leg injury leading to amputation of the limb. Such inhumane actions warrant a jail sentence. We will not tolerate cruelty to defenseless animals.” 

  Howard Lawrence, Vice President, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement, said, “The ASPCA continues to be thankful for partners like the NYPD and Bronx District Attorney’s Office in the fight against animal cruelty in New York City. Sassy – now named Sally – was rescued from a life of cruelty and pain, provided desperately needed medical care at the ASPCA Animal Hospital, and now has a new home thanks to this collaboration. We’re grateful to the NYPD and Bronx District Attorney for bringing Sally’s abuser to justice.”

  District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Roberto Martinez, 25, of 946 Leggett Avenue, pleaded guilty today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary to Aggravated Cruelty to an Animal, a felony. As part of the plea agreement, Martinez will be sentenced on November 15, 2017 to one year in jail, must register as an animal abuser in the state registry and is not permitted to own an animal for five years. He was remanded pending sentencing.

   According to the investigation, on or about September 10, 2016, the defendant was observed via video surveillance lifting an approximately eight-month old, mixed breed dog then-named “Sassy” by her harness to defendant’s shoulder height. Defendant then slammed Sassy to the floor, causing Sassy to land on the backside of her body. Sassy attempted to run away from the defendant, however, her right-hind leg was unresponsive. Defendant then lifted Sassy by the neck area of her body and pushed her upwards on the staircase before entering an apartment. The defendant’s girlfriend, who owned the dog, brought her to the ASPCA, telling veterinarians the dog had fallen down stairs. Evidence of prior abuse including broken ribs was detected. The NYPD was notified and retrieved the video of the assault.

  The dog’s right hind limb was amputated on September 16, 2016.

District Attorney Clark thanked the ASPCA, specifically Dr. Alison Liu, Forensic Veterinarian, and Dr. Robert Reisman, Supervisor, Forensic Sciences; as well as NYPD Detective John Glynn of the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad for his work on the case.