Suffolk Man Kept Pit Bull Terrier In ‘Deplorable Conditions’: SPCA

MELVILLE, NY — A 57-year-old Melville man kept his pit bull terrier in a filthy cage for 10 days, leading to medical issues for the dog, the Suffolk Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Friday.

Peter Miller, a former Amity Harbor man who claims to now live in Melville, confined his male pit bull terrier “Buster” to a small cage in “deplorable conditions for 10 straight days without removing the dog from the cage or cleaning the cage,” Chief Roy Gross said.

There was a putrid smell of rotting food, ammonia and urine, with a urine-soaked blanket and moldy food inside the cage, according to Gross. The dog suffered from discomfort due to large areas of matted fur caked with excrement, urine scalding, redness, and irritation all over its paws, Gross said.

“Buster’s” legs, belly and hind area, were also irritated, and there was severe inflammation between the dog's toes, which were bleeding, Gross said, adding that there were bruises and scrapes inside its mouth and on its tongue, matted fur deep in its ear canal, a chewed-up tail, and eye pus.

Miller, who was charged with with two counts of animal cruelty and neglect, is scheduled to appear in First District Court in Central Islip on Jan. 16.