BRENTWOOD, N.Y. — A New York man has been arrested for strangling a dog to death. Law enforcement authorities on Long Island charged the suspect with aggravated animal cruelty and threatening a relative during a video phone call, Suffolk County Police said Saturday.
“A 23-year-old man found a Chihuahua on May 9 that had escaped from its Central Islip home. After keeping the dog for nearly a month, the man contacted a family member via FaceTime on June 1 and strangled the dog, killing it, while threatening his family member during the video call,” police said in a press statement. “Third Squad detectives investigated and determined the dog’s remains were discarded. Detectives with the assistance of officers from Third Precinct Crime Section recovered the remains at a waste transfer facility in Holbrook on June 4. A necropsy will be performed.”
Police said they were not identifying the suspect since he is undergoing a mental health evaluation at a hospital, NBC News reported
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals helped in the investigation, according to police.
