Dogs Starved to Death in Mount Vernon; SPCA Seeks Public's Help

MOUNT VERNON, NY — The SPCA of Westchester and the Mount Vernon Police Department are asking the public to come forward with any information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for three dogs who starved to death in a yard on 1st Avenue.

Police and the Mount Vernon Shelter received anonymous calls March 24 about three dead dogs in the read and side yard of 215 S. 1st Ave. But before police and the SPCA of Westchester’s Humane Law Enforcement got there, someone took away two of the bodies.

What they found was the body of a male pit bull puppy, six-to- eight months old, inside a crate. A necropsy revealed that the puppy died of starvation. All the skeletal bones were visible. The stomach was empty. The puppy was essentially skin and bones.

To help secure a timely arrest, a reward of $1,000 has been offered by the New York State Humane Association leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this baseless crime.

"Crimes of this nature against innocent animals make us at the SPCA of Westchester incredibly angry and sad. The pain and suffering endured before the starvation process ends in death cannot be justified,” said Shannon Laukhuf, Executive Director of the SPCA of Westchester. “We ask those who know something to say something, in this case and any other act of cruelty against animals.”

Those with information are asked to call the SPCA of Westchester’s confidential hotline at 914-941- 7797.