Union City Man Starved Pit Bull, Found Near Death, Police Say

WEEHAWKEN, NJ — A Union City man was arrested Nov. 6, after police say he severely starved this pit bull, pictured above.

Emil Bustamante is criminally charged with third-degree animal cruelty and a second count of animal abandonment. He was arrested last Friday and taken to the Hudson County Jail.

Weehawken Police made the arrest, after police say he abandoned the dog in that town. The pit bull was found tied up by a leash and abandoned in Weehawken; exactly where she was found has not been disclosed by police.

She was found by a staff member from the Weehawken Mayor's office, who helped get her veterinary treatment.

The pit bull, a female named Sabrina, was dangerously underfed and near death, said police. Although she has gotten veterinary care, authorities said the dog remains in serious medical condition as of Wednesday.

"Sabrina was starved so severely that her body consumed even the fat surrounding her eyes just to survive," Near & Far Animal Foundation, the non-profit that is caring for her, posted to its Facebook page. "The loss of protective fat around her eyes has left them sunken and contributed to her eyelids rolling inward, causing fur and lashes to rub against the delicate surface of her eyes ... This is what severe starvation does. It doesn’t just leave bones protruding. It devastates the body in ways most people could never imagine."

Sabrina's health was improving, they said, but on Nov. 1 she started spiking a high fever.

"Why must this innocent girl endure so much?" they asked. "She was finally gaining weight. Showing a little pep in her step. Giving kisses. And now this. Sabrina remains incredibly fragile. We refuse to give up. She deserves so much more than a life defined by suffering."

Officers with the Weehawken Police Department and Union City Police Department located Bustamante Friday on the 3800 block of Kennedy Blvd. in Union City and arrested him without incident.

"Animal cruelty will not be tolerated," said Weehawken Police.

Pitbulls & Addicts and Near and Far Rescues is coordinating her care. They are asking for the Weehawken Police to review the law and bring stronger charges against Bustamante.