ASPCA: Push to Upgrade Charges in Port Washington Animal Cruelty Case

Pressure is on to upgrade charges against a Port Washington man arrested in September after his dog was found in a crate, covered in plastic and because of the odor, believed to be dead, authorities said.

Port Washington Police have confirmed that Oseas Bracamonte, 38, was arrested on Sept. 21 on animal cruelty charges after officers found Zara, a young Schnauzer, in the crate at a building on Main Street.

It appeared as though Zara was never let out the cage or appropriately cared for, said Port Washington Acting Police Chief James Salerno. The dog was brought to North Shore Animal League America for treatment.

Zara “was in such horrific condition that it had to be completely shaved and is in serious risk of losing one of its legs,” according to the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Bracamonte was charged with overdriving, torturing and injuring animals and failure to provide sustenance, according to police.

But an effort launched Wednesday by Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is prompting animal advocates to call the Nassau County District Attorney’s office to upgrade the charges.

“While we all can agree that the penalties for animal abuse must be increased it is time our prosecutors strictly enforced the current law to its maximum,” the NCSPCA said on Facebook. “We must demand that our prosecutors hold those individuals who are responsible for these heinous acts to the strictest penalties allowed by law.”

A spokesman for the Nassau DA’s office said any changes in the charges would be made known at arraignment, not before. Bracamonte’s next court appearance is Oct. 17.

But animal advocates may take comfort in knowing that under District Attorney Kathleen Rice, the DA’s office authored a bill in April designed to increase penalties in animal abuse cases.

“Given that we wrote the legislation that would increase penalties against animal abusers in New York, we are certainly as aggressive as possible when it comes to prosecuting crimes against animals,” the DA spokesman said.

Patch was unable to learn of Zara’s status from the NCSPA or NSALA Friday afternoon.