Animals First: County Agencies Announce Cooperative Deal To End Animal Cruelty

Kona and Olivia were among nine pit bulls that were living in three small cages in the back of a pickup truck. They were barely able to move and were forced to live in their own filth. A year ago, they were rescued, and thanks to cooperation between the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the District Attorney and the Police Department, they were rehabilitated and the person responsible was charged and found guilty of animal cruelty.

Today, Kona and Olivia are doing fine. In fact, they attended a press conference held Wednesday afternoon to announce the signing of a historic agreement between the SPCA, DA and police to help prevent animal cruelty and hold those who commit the crimes more accountable.

"We are ushering in a new era of cooperation — where prosecutors and investigators from my office's Animal Crimes Unit, peace officers from the SPCA and police officers and detectives from the NCPD will all work closely together to ensure the safety of Nassau's animals," District Attorney Madeline Singas said. "Crimes against defenseless animals are heartbreaking, and we take these cases very seriously, because we know that those who abuse or neglect animals often harm people, too."

Under the agreement, the SPCA will still investigate animal cruelty cases, but will now have the support of the NCPD or the DA. To help finance this, the DA pledged continued support of asset forfeiture funds. The money helps pay for the medical bills, recovery and re-homing costs that usually come with animal abuse cases. Last year, Singas said, her office paid $53,000 to veterinarians and shelters that helped rehabilitate animals from these cases. It's a cost that otherwise would be born by taxpayers, or not at all.

Gary Rogers, president of the NCSPCA, said that in years past, cases like Kona and Olivia's would have likely ended with many of the dogs being put down, since the SPCA alone didn't have the funds to pay for their rehabilitation.

"This agreement should stand as an example for other towns, cities and counties to follow," Rogers said. "The collaboration and cooperation between these agencies will ensure that our community continues to do all that is possible in preventing, investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty."

In addition to funding, the SPCA will also receive police support in high-risk arrests and investigations. And the SPCA will be able to provide its expertise to police officers during their investigations.

"For many of us, pets are like family members. And it's unfathomable that someone would do harm, neglect or fight any animals," said Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter. "Unfortunately, that does sometimes happen, but working together with the district attorney and the Nassau County SPCA, we will be able to pool our resources and work collaboratively to help put an end to these egregious events."

Olivia, left, an 11-month-old pit bull, and her mother Kona, were rescued from horrible living conditions thanks to cooperation between the police, district attorney and SPCA. Photo: Alex Costello/Patch.