LI Man Convicted On Animal Abuse Charges: DA

COPIAGUE, NY - A Copiague man was convicted recently for failing to provide proper sustenance to four dogs, causing two of the dogs to be euthanized, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini.

Anthony Laccone, 57, was convicted on Friday by a bench trial of four counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; and failure to provide proper sustenance.

In 2016, the dogs were found by Town of Babylon Animal Control and Suffolk County SPCA officials while responding to a complaint, the DA said.

Laccone had failed to provide proper sustenance including food, water, veterinary care, and proper living conditions to four pit bulls, the DA said.

The animals were living in uninhabitable conditions as the home was filled with dirt and trash.

In addition, fecal matter covered the floors and walls which led to an overwhelming foul odor, the DA said.

Each dog was examined by a veterinarian at the Town of Babylon Animal Shelter and were found to be malnourished, flea infested, had skin infections, were soaked with urine, and had fecal matter embedded in their fur, according to the DA.

Two of the dogs were individually confined to a car in the garage, each filled with trash and feces, and were found to have eaten through the seats of the car to fill their stomachs, the DA said.

Upon medical examination, these two dogs had to be euthanized. The other two have since been adopted.

"This individual, without care or concern, severely endangered the well-being of four defenseless animals," Sini said. "This level of cruelty is sickening and hateful and will not be tolerated by my office."

Laccone faces a maximum sentence of three years of probation on each count to run concurrently with mental health conditions.

He will have to register within five days of his conviction with the Suffolk County Animal Abuse Registry.

He is scheduled to be sentenced by Suffolk County Court Judge John J. Andrews on July 25.