Humane Law Enforcement

It’s hard to understand how someone could beat an animal to death with a rock, and then proudly post a video of the grisly scene online. And yet, that’s exactly what one individual did. On December 3, ASPCA Agents arrested Jordan Heuer for attacking, injuring and causing the death of an opossum in a Queens, New York, park.

After the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) received complaints about a video of the incident posted online, the organization referred the issue to the ASPCA. We opened a criminal investigation.

“This is a disturbing case of violent abuse in which the suspect went out of his way to not only inflict pain on a helpless animal victim by smashing it repeatedly on its head with a rock, but to also record and post the brutal event on the Internet,” says Stacy Wolf, Vice President and Chief Counsel of the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement and Legal Advocacy departments.

Heuer, 18, was charged with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty—under current New York law, felony animal cruelty charges can be brought only in cases involving companion animals. If convicted, he faces up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

“This is precisely the sort of case that supports making the more callous acts that cause serious injury or death to wild animals into felony offenses,” Wolf notes, citing the extreme depravity of the opossum’s death.

We couldn’t agree more, and our Government Relations team is on the case. Bill Ketzer, ASPCA Senior Director of Government Relations for the Northeast, adds: “We will continue to work with legislators…to help shape laws to cover these types of especially heinous acts, regardless of whether the animal victim is a pet or a wild animal.”  

If you’ve witnessed abuse, don’t hesitate: Report animal cruelty.

On Tuesday, the ASPCA arrested Queens resident Crystal Lashley, 18, for allegedly neglecting her six-year-old German Shepherd mix, Briana.

ASPCA Agents found Briana tethered to a tree outside a home on August 21. She’d been neglected so long that her collar had become embedded in her neck, causing a deeply painful wound.

Lashley agreed to surrender her dog to the Agents, who took Briana straight to ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital for treatment and evaluation.

In addition to her neck wound, ASPCA veterinarians found Briana to be dehydrated, underweight and infested with fleas. Briana is continuing to receive treatment for these issues and is recovering at the hospital.

When she’s made a full recovery, this resilient dog will be available for adoption—we can’t wait for her to experience a real loving family.

Lashley was charged with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty. If convicted, she faces up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

If you suspect you’ve witnessed animal cruelty, please report it. It saves lives like Briana’s.

Hershey, before receiving treatment at the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital

Today the ASPCA arrested Queens resident Grimilda Amil for allegedly neglecting and starving her three-year-old male Yorkshire terrier, who has been recovering under our care for nearly two months.

Amil brought her Yorkie, Hershey, to an ASPCA Mobile/Spay Neuter Clinic on June 27. Alarmed at Hershey’s condition, Clinic staff called our Humane Law Enforcement Agents, who quickly responded.

Amil relinquished ownership of Hershey to the ASPCA, and Agents transported the tiny dog to Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.

There, veterinarians determined Hershey— whom they found to be emaciated, anemic and suffering from pressure sores—had been starved. At that time, Hershey weighed just 5.2 pounds. Today he weighs in at 10.1 pounds, a 94% increase!

Hershey is completing his recovery in a caring ASPCA foster home. When he’s ready, he’ll be made available for adoption.

Amil, 55, was charged with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty. If convicted, she faces up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. She is due in Queens Criminal Court on October 4. 

If you suspect you’ve witnessed animal cruelty, please don’t hesitate to report it.

We never get used to it. No matter how many cases of cruelty our team investigates, the brutality of it still hits us hard in the heart. This case was no exception. In mid-July our Humane Law Enforcement department received a call from an eyewitness who saw a father and son beating their cat to death with a stick. We jumped into action.

Quickly finding the deceased cat in a garbage bag on the side of the road, our Agents subsequently obtained a search warrant for the home. A search uncovered a broken stick encrusted with cat fibers and blood in the attic. Jean Rog Murat, 60, and his son, Robenson Murat, 29, were arrested and taken into custody.

The Kings County District Attorney indicted the duo on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals; overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; and failure to provide proper sustenance for animals. If convicted, the defendants will face a maximum of two years of incarceration.

“This was a heinous act on an innocent animal and a clear case of violent abuse,” says Stacy Wolf, Vice President and Chief Counsel of the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement department. “We praise the district attorney for his commitment to hold these perpetrators accountable for their cruel and callous acts.”

Animal cruelty is a crime in every state. With your help, we fight back. Please join our battle against animal cruelty today!