ASPCA Makes Arrest in Case of Starving Puppies Abandoned in Apartment

Monday, January 14, 2013 - 12:00pm
Starving Puppy

Photos: [top] Jack and [bottom] Jill, before and after receiving treatment at the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.

Can you imagine leaving your pets behind in your former home, even in the worst possible circumstances? We can’t either. And yet, after Jerome Smith, 23, was evicted from his Harlem apartment, he chose to do just that to his six-month-old puppies.

When New York City Animal Care & Control officers opened the door to Smith’s former home in September, they found Terrier mix puppies Jack and Jill, all alone and in bad shape.

The officers called ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement, and our agents brought the pups to ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital right away.

ASPCA veterinarians found Jack and Jill to be dehydrated, malnourished and severely underweight. Jack weighed 12.7 pounds and Jill weighed 8.5 pounds. By contrast, after being fed a balanced diet and receiving treatment by ASPCA staff, Jack now weighs 36.5 pounds and Jill weighs 30.3 pounds—a 187 and 256 percent increase, respectively.

The ASPCA arrested Smith in December. He was charged with two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. If convicted, he faces up to two years in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.

Jack and Jill's story ends happily. On January 13, Jill was adopted! Jack is waiting for a forever family at the ASPCA Adoption Center, located in Manhattan. To learn more about how you can adopt Jack, please visit the ASPCA Adoption Center online.

Update 1/18/13: We are thrilled to report that Jack was adopted!

If you suspect you’ve witnessed animal cruelty, please report it.

Tags: 
Animal Cruelty
Humane Law Enforcement
NYC
We Were There

Comments

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 17:56 — John Beck (Visitor)
I would not think of leaving my Dog Behind. She watches over me like a Hawk and an Eagle. That's why she has an Indian Name. Her Name is Morning Dawn.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 21:45 — ScottyGS (Visitor)
response to John Beck: I hear you, John. We adopted our American Eskimo Dog from Eskie Rescue--drove from Long Island to Carlisle, Pa on the strength of a photo just to get her. She'd been brought THERE from Texas, given up by an owner who worked all day and left her alone and crated for many hours. Instant love. When I took her for a walk she zeroed in on our van (up a hill among a dozen cars) and dragged me to it, hopped in and was all ready to leave, long before the paperwork was filled out! They know. Perhaps because of her confinement for so many hours she taught herself not to drink sufficiently so is now heading into kidney failure which we're striving hard to stave off. :( I disliked her name--she wasn't a 'BooBoo' so I waited until the right one came to me. Kaya in the Inuit language means 'stay and don't go back' and she's been with us now for 6 wonderful years. I'm only hoping against all odds that she gets to live out her normal life-span.

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 04:30 — asid (Visitor)
Nice information, valuable and excellent design, as share good stuff with good ideas and concepts, lots of great information and inspiration, both of which I need, thanks to offer such a helpful information here.

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 07:16 — asid (Visitor)
I thought I’d found a place where they might be – they like sandy soil and grow well where there’s been a burn. Last summer I biked past a place like that

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 08:01 — asid (Visitor)
You should comment on the bonuses of the blog. You can bring up it's superb. Your blog appraisal may build up your prospects

Tue, 04/09/2013 - 03:11 — asid (Visitor)
This is an interesting and so well maintained blog. Whole article is too good and well written.

Tue, 04/09/2013 - 03:48 — asid (Visitor)
I simply want to tell you that I am new to weblog and definitely liked this blog site. Very likely I’m going to bookmark your blog . You absolutely have wonderful stories. Cheers for sharing with us your blog

Tue, 04/09/2013 - 05:06 — sl786982 (Visitor)
You could write about the automation on the blog. You may jot down it's magnetic. Your blog angle could heighten your students.

Wed, 04/10/2013 - 03:33 — sl786982 (Visitor)
Who knows what discoveries lay ahead? Kepler has only been in space for three years, but its mission has recently been extended by NASA for an additional four years.

Wed, 04/10/2013 - 08:05 — sl786982 (Visitor)
I simply want to tell you that I am new to weblog and definitely liked this blog site. Very likely I’m going to bookmark your blog . You absolutely have wonderful stories. Cheers for sharing with us your blog

Thu, 04/11/2013 - 06:15 — asid (Visitor)
I simply want to tell you that I am new to weblog and definitely liked this blog site. Very likely I’m going to bookmark your blog . You absolutely have wonderful stories. Cheers for sharing with us your blog

Thu, 04/11/2013 - 08:19 — asid (Visitor)
Maybe you can get some new experiences from there. So just be relax to facing

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 10:57 — dale (Visitor)
I agree, there are too many people that have animals and discard them like they were damaged furniture. Too many people adopt or buy animals and all they do is abuse them . Its a shame, but look at what some people do to their own children, or what we do to each other as adults in an alleged civil society.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 10:16 — Thomas M. Williams (Visitor)
I will tell you why people do these things!!! Like other crimes people are not held accountable and punished accordingly!! If that person who left the puppies behind feared a severe punishment they wouldnt have done it in the first place. When the penalties are severe in any ceime people will think twice about committing them. I know when I was a kid I behaved myself because I was afraid my Father would kick my ass.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 10:36 — Ellen (Visitor)
Well said. I totally agree.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 11:25 — ceci (Visitor)
Right on. If the laws were more severe when it came to animal cruelty, people would think twice before doing it. We need harsher punishment now! Poor animals should not have to suffer at the hands of humans. It's sickening!

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 11:28 — Ron (Visitor)
Well, "severe" punishment and "fear" are the worst ways to teach and enforce behavior. What happens when the person, dog, cat, horse, whatever thinks no one is watching and they can't get caught? Right, they do it anyway because they e only been punished and have no "want" or motivation to do the right thing. Its old school thinking to train people or animals that way. The best behaved aniimals and people are those who were raised with caring and compassion. The desire to do good must be instilled in an individual at a young age. We call them "morals" and "values" and in the past they were instilled in a person by everyone around them. Today we live in a "do what feels good to you" society where nearly everyone is taught to " do what feels right to you" and learn the rest from TV and movies. Because of that, you are, unfortunately right, the only way to attempt to keep such people we've created in line in the near term is harsh and harsher penalties. If we desire long term solutions we need to educate children teach them values and reward good behavior positively. Then they'll do the right thing because the want to not because they'll get thrown in jail - at least most of them. There will always be people who are evil and lack a conscious. I'm sorry you feared your father. That's the way I was raised as well. Fortunately I had other influences that helped me not turn out like him. I hope you don't raise your kids or your animals to be fearful of you as the means of controlling their behavior.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 13:09 — Jo Everett (Visitor)
Teaching people to be compassionate toward humans and other animals must begin early in life, with compassion, not corporal punishment.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 13:10 — Michelle (Visitor)
Wow, a little judgemental aren't you? You'd probably just give this jerk a time out. That will teach him.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 14:18 — Mab (Visitor)
The person wasn't advocating a slap on the wrist for the offender. He/she was merely pointing out that too many people today seem to have been raised without values, like compassion, concern for others, basic courtesy--all the things that enable people to interact on a daily basis without wanting to kill one another. That's not being judgmental, it's just being observant of human behavior in today's society.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 14:20 — Moi (Visitor)
Actually, not necessarily true. I have no idea where people get this whole idea that in the past humanity was so much more moral. Morals were instilled with fear in the past. Fairy Tales were originally horrible stories that taught children to behave or else bad things would happen to them (Little Mermaid had her tongue cut off, etc.) I do agree with the rest though for the most part.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 14:27 — DLove (Visitor)
Well written - morals, values, and decency have gone by the waywind. We live in it's all about me.. and obviously for the guy who left his pets, it was.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 16:33 — Laura (Visitor)
Sounds good and I agree with the importance of teaching young people to be kind to animals. But the point is, what do you do to deter people who are already harboring evil intentions toward animals from acting out on them? It's true that if the penalty is so harsh, they may harm the animals more. But it's not true that punishment and fear are the worst ways to teach and enforce behavior. For some personality types, this is the only to handle them. When you have dealt with truly evil people you will understand that this is true. I don't know the answer - just commenting that in some cases fear is a very good motivator.

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 13:38 — Judith Mitchell (Visitor)
Here at the "minimum" security prison facility in our state, there's a wonderful program run in conjunction with a local shelter -- one or two shelter puppies are assigned to a prisoner (carefully screened beforehand), who is then responsible for caring for, nurturing, training, and if necessary, gently teaching the puppies lose their fear and can be around lots of people. Not only does it do wonders for the chosen caretakers, but I've watched as the tough-guy prisoners respond with real love and delight when the pups are around them. Then, when the shelter deems the puppies to be well-trained, affectionate, and used to meeting lots of people, they're returned to the shelter for adoption (if someone who has met them already while visiting the prison, and adopted them). It is so heartwarming to see the guys so gentle and caring towards these animals. I believe in Great Britain, prisons have farm animals as well, for the inmates to learn to care for and about. This teaches the prisoners far more than the mentor-prisoner teaches the dogs!

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 12:03 — Caryn (Visitor)
Excellent point - of course if the operative phrase here is describing the participating prisonsers is CAREFULLY SCREENED BEFOREHAND. Depending on the nature of the offense, a program like this can be a godsend both for the dog and the inmate. But to consider this kind of arrangement for an offender with any history of animal abuse is like hiring a child abuser to teach preschool.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 16:41 — Mary (Visitor)
I think the answer is BOTH and to decentralize the enforcement. That is, 1) educate the young people to treat animals kindly, 2) instill the fear of punishment for bad behavior and 3) enforce this at the person-to-person level in addition to through government- in other words if this person had had a friend or family member that had intervened to stop this and to tell him it was a horrible thing to do, and if necessary, instilling fear at the correct time to not endanger the dogs, it would not have happened.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 12:29 — Natalie Roy (Visitor)
I agree with everyone! These people need to be held accountable! No doubt this is the same person who would hurt or abandon a human being as well. Abusers are abusers regardless of who they are abusing! Scum of the earth...

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 11:12 — dale (Visitor)
I agree, abusers are abusers regardless. Just look at the man that stabbed that woman at Bed, Bath Beyond; he put kittens on fire prior to and look at Colinbine, they were killing animals prior to and their parents thought nothing of it claiming that they were only killing cats. You cannot teach compassion to adults but if you are brought up from childhood that animals are worthless you can have a monster of an adult. Look at how they club Seals in Canada or kill elephants for their tusks !! I have had dogs since I was a kid and the thought of leaving them would not ever cross my mind, These people are scum that abuse and disregard their pets. All he had to do was go to Animal Care Conrol or the ASPCA and drop them off. We need stronger punishment for animal abuse

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 12:33 — John (Visitor)
I'd like to think positively in that the owners assumed someone would come through after the evection and inspect the place. I doubt that's the truth, and it doesn't make it much better. That being said I wish the punishment was swift and harsh. They obviously know who did this and they should be persecuted. If it were up to me they'd be locked in an apartment to starve. it sickens me to believe someone could intentionally do this. Look at the before faces of the dogs. I'm very angry.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 12:37 — John (Visitor)
I just re-read the whole article. I'm glad they owner in Harlem was found and arrested. I'm not sure I agree two years prison and a 2,000 dollar fine is enough, but I'm so happy that something was done. I'm glad to see my monthly donation has made an impact on these types of situations. I wish I could give more.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 13:56 — Danielle Foster (Visitor)
I honestly believe that what a person does to an animal should mirror that person's punishment. As another reader commented, we should lock the man away alone with no food or water for a while until he is malnourished and dehydrated and show him exactly how it feels. These animals are intelligent and have feelings and emotions similar to humans. I say make the punishment fit the crime, exactly! And when it comes to dog fighting well, lets place the criminal in a room with some of those unfortunate dogs that are about to be euthanized, hang some raw meat on the criminals neck and give the dogs a nice last supper! Harsh you think? Maybe but I think its still too lenient for what's been done to those poor dogs that depend on our love and care.

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 18:04 — Gail (Visitor)
Sure, let the dogs eat the guy...then the dogs get killed for doing what you instigated. Seriously?

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 14:08 — Danielle Foster (Visitor)
I honestly believe that what a person does to an animal should mirror that person's punishment. As another reader commented, we should lock the man away alone with no food or water for a while until he is malnourished and dehydrated and show him exactly how it feels. These animals are intelligent and have feelings and emotions similar to humans. I say make the punishment fit the crime, exactly! And when it comes to dog fighting well, lets place the criminal in a room with some of those unfortunate dogs that are about to be euthanized, hang some raw meat on the criminals neck and give the dogs a nice last supper! Harsh you think? Maybe but I think its still too lenient for what's been done to those poor dogs that depend on our love and care.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 15:08 — Sobeida (Visitor)
They were better off left behind, if that "person" didnt care, then, why would we think he was taking good care of them?

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 15:45 — Mia Courville (Visitor)
I agree the crime punishment of injury to an animal is a slap on the wrist or a fine, no big deal.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 10:49 — JANICE PICCIRILLI (Visitor)
Well, I'll tell you why...although it is the obvious; he is a loser who was evicted from his home and could not afford a home, a life or to feed himself, let alone those babies. So the loser,cowardly thing to do is just leave them. Tells me he should never have had them in the first place AND I would be willing to bet that those 2 dogs were already on their way to starvation BEFORE he was evicted.I am sure authorities did not wait weeks to go into that apt.The owner most def was eagar to re rent it. and those puppies were mighty thin. Bless those who are getting them back to good health!and Pray for a good home for them!

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 11:19 — Lynda Hartmann (Visitor)
Hear, hear!!! I still don't understand why it's just a misdemeanor to treat animals this way. To me, it should be a flat out felony! And I agree, it should be an eye for an eye and treat the owners as they treated their poor pets. Let the punishment fit the crime!!!

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 12:45 — Carole Thomas (Visitor)
well said!!!

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 13:28 — Carol (Visitor)
Totally agree, misdemeanor is way too easy. Let the punishment fit the crime, felony with mandatory jail time of a least a couple of years, large fine and banned from pet ownership for life. Thank you ASPCA for the wonderful work you do, I am proud to be a monthly donor.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 15:20 — Teresa (Visitor)
I don't think it's right that abusers/neglectors get away with this and get a small fine or jail time, either. However, it isn't much different from child/spouse abusers. It also makes me sad that people treat animals with so much love yet think nothing about killing their own unborn child because the child is an incovenience. Life is sacred, special and to be treated with respect. Those who do not respect the sanctity of life (regardless of the number of legs they have) should be punished.

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 18:06 — Gail (Visitor)
I wholeheartedly agree with you - animal abuse is a crime and SHOULD BE A FELONY! Here in Massachusetts, laws were passed making this abuse a felony. I wish every state passed that law!

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 11:34 — Frederica Steller (Visitor)
I agree. How could anybody just abandon their pets!

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 11:38 — Bob (Visitor)
I had lost my job and had no money coming in unemployment was denied and I have three Huskies I sold my truck to have the money for food and vet care for my "kids" and stayed at my Moms house till I got back on my feet ...that is what you do when you have responsibilities !!!

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 13:01 — rocco (Visitor)
good for you Bob, my dogs are part of my family too and i would see to them as i would my kids if any thing were to happen to me.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 16:03 — Bob (Visitor)
Unfortunately Rocco not everyone is like that which is sad I have spent thousands on animals and the people that say "why would you do that" are the ones that should not have pets...my dogs give me so much joy and make my life happier and I owe them at least that much ;-) Dogs rule ! Thank you !

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 15:58 — Jennifer Maes (Visitor)
You are lucky you had a Mom to move in with. Sometimes, sad as it is, it really is impossible for some people to continue to care for their pets. That's when you contact a local no-kill shelter and surrender the animals. At least they have a chance at a new beginning. Poverty sucks, but it's no excuse for abuse.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 11:51 — Marta (Visitor)
I COMPLETELY agree with the above comment - starve him and see how he likes it. And thank God for the ASPCA

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 13:00 — dru (Visitor)
I SO agree with. u.....I look at my dogs and cats n I could NEVER abandon them!!! I would live in my car n have my babies with. me.....

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 13:58 — Lois McGuire (Visitor)
People do it because they don't care. If the punishment was really punishment things might be different.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 15:53 — docnoir (Visitor)
right on. Let the punishment fit the crime. What a heartless monster. How did he think they were going to feed themselves. He should have taken them to a shelter. Homeless people on the street do better by their animal companions.

Pages

Post new comment