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

Thu, 01/17/2013 - 17:13 — Carol C (Visitor)
Why would any body do that to these puppies who love you unconditionally. I think you should lock him away with no food, no water and see how he likes being starved and left dehydrated. I have a puppy and I look at that face that is so full of love and could never fathom doing anything to break his heart. Thank god they were found and are thriving. Thank god for these organizations that give all animals a fighting chance, you are all angels.

Thu, 01/17/2013 - 17:40 — Janice Rogers (Visitor)
Just because some one has pets doesn't mean they love them. So many easily abandon their pets or surrender them instead of trying to find a way to keep them. I don't understand these people. I love animals especially dogs and would do all that I could to keep my pal.Their kind of love is so special.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 09:40 — sally gladden (Visitor)
I probably makes no difference to this jerk.... abandoning pets or kids.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 11:08 — Annette (Visitor)
I agree - he probably did not even care and he'll end up with just a slap in the face - they need to really start enforcing punishment for animal cruelty charges - if he would do this to an innocent animal (or in this case, two scared innocent dogs), he would have no reservations doing this to people, just a hunch

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 14:50 — fiona (Visitor)
If the punishment was more severe, he would have taken care not to get caught. Instead of leaving them alive in an apartment that could be traced to him, he might have put them in a weighted sack and thrown them in the river.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 16:18 — gretchen small (Visitor)
you're unfortunately right. more severe punishments have not worked for most other crimes. spay/neuter to reduce pet populations is the only answer i can thin of, and it is an incomplete answer......

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 19:10 — Jolene (Visitor)
I agree, The punishment should be more harsh. It should actually be the same thing he did to his dog, same amount of days also.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 19:17 — Phillips (Visitor)
The severeness of the punishment doesn't matter. The Law should not allow those evicted for animal cruelty to escape the punishment nor the fines for their acts. They defiantly should do jail time and the charged time should be a minimum 3 yrs for each count. More depending on the severity of the crime. Then to help rehab them, their 5 or more yrs probation should be to work with organizations that care for, rescue and protect, animals.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 21:09 — Shonda (Visitor)
I agree with you and your idea. Just like crimes against people it should depend on the severity of the crime. All crimes are horrible and sometimes the people that commit crimes have mental disorders like being bipolar or being a sociopath/pyschopath. These type of things can't be fixed by jail time. These things are above jail and a fine. Which is so sad.

Mon, 01/21/2013 - 07:07 — Becky (Visitor)
I really take offense to your comment about someone with a mental disorder like "bipolar" doing something like this to thier pets. I am bipolar, and I would NEVER even THINK of doing this to a poor defenseless animal!!! I think maybe you should choose your words wisely, and know what you are talking about before you make generalizations! The only thing I' ve ever been accused of is trying to save and help the poor defenseless animals. This guy was a jerk plain and simple. Please think before you speak.

Thu, 01/24/2013 - 19:15 — SERGIO SANCHEZ (Visitor)
I AM BIPOLAR, AND MY TWO BABIES, A TERRIER MIX AND CHI MIX, ARE MY LIFE. THEY EASE MY STRUGGLES OF DEPRESSION, AND OFFER ME UPLITING LIFE. I LOVE MY DOGS AND CAN NOT EVEN THINK OF DOING ANYTHING TO HARM MY DOGS. I CRY WHEN I SEE PETS ARE TREATED WITH CRUELTY. I PRAY TO GOD THERE IS ONLY KINDNESS AND LOVE IN THIS WORLD, AND PETS ARE THE TEACHERS OF LOVE AND KINDNESS.

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 20:12 — Julie Porter (Visitor)
I have Bipolar also. I have two Cats and last summer I saw a car leave to Kittens off to the side of the road. I picked them both up. One kitten I took to the animal rescue league . The other kitten I brought home with me. Idiots are the people that treat animals this way. Idiots .

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Sat, 04/13/2013 - 02:40 — sl786982 (Visitor)
This is also a very good post which I really enjoyed reading. It is not every day that I have the possibility to see something like this.

Tue, 01/22/2013 - 01:21 — caryn (Visitor)
It infuriates me when anyone suggests that an individual convicted of animal cruelty should be put to work in an animal shelter as part of their "rehabilitation". Seriously? Would you want Michael Vick taking care of YOUR dog?

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Thu, 01/24/2013 - 02:17 — joyce (Visitor)
I agree with you. It makes me cry to think someone could be so heartless. If someone would do this to an animal, they would do it to a helpless child or elderly person.

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Fri, 01/18/2013 - 15:23 — Gina (Visitor)
Studies show that people who hurt animals are more prone to hurting people. It's not a big stretch what you say.

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 17:10 — Jean (Visitor)
I go to bed every night praying for God's creatures. It is true, those who hurt people have started out hurting animals. Animals love unconditionally, as do children, and they have no voice. They don't know who will love them, or who will hurt them, yet they give us the benefit of the doubt. I have a Yorkie that I rescued from the animal hoarding mother/daughter team from Rockville Centre 2 years ago. ( L.I. House of Horrors) Most of the animals (26) died from having their muzzles duct taped shut! This little 3 lb dog survived in spite of her horrific living conditions, starved and covered in her own excretement. She is the most grateful, and affectionate animal I have ever had. I belong to the ASPCA, b/c I try to help these poor, defenseless animals in some way. Bless all the animal lovers who give them a second chance!!

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 21:11 — Shonda (Visitor)
That is horrible to hear. 26 animals died because someone has a cold heart. Sometimes I feel like we're out numbered yet we still try and do our best to help the animals we can the best way we know how. It shows strength and hope, which is what these animals need.

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Fri, 01/18/2013 - 10:09 — Lindy (Visitor)
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