Dog Forced to Eat Garbage Dies—ASPCA Arrests Suspect

On February 5, Queens, NY, resident Cherie Fillmore was arrested and charged with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty. The 32-year-old is accused of starving her Pit Bull pup to death.

The initial investigation began on January 14, after concerned neighbors reported seeing a lifeless dog outside a South Jamaica home. ASPCA Special Investigator Paul Romano responded to the scene, where he discovered the severely emaciated dog tethered to a four pound chain—he determined the animal to be deceased. 

When questioned, Fillmore, who works part-time in the medical field, admitted to having owned the dog. Special Investigator Romano transported the dog to ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, where a necropsy determined dog had died of starvation.

“The necropsy found raw garbage in the dog’s stomach,” says Joseph Pentangelo, Assistant Director of ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement. “He was rooting around, forced to eat whatever he could trying to stay alive.”

Fillmore is due back in court on February 22. She faces up to one year in jail if convicted.

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