LI Breeder Accused Of Neglecting Dogs, Puppies, Leaving Them Without Food, Water For Days: DA

MANORVILLE, NY — A Manorville man was accused of animal neglect after he reportedly left puppies and dogs without food or water for 48 hours, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

John Kowal, 57, owner of Blue Ribbon Puppies, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor animal neglect after New York State inspectors reportedly found numerous issues related to the welfare of 23 dogs and puppies, the DA said.

According to court documents, on February 24, inspectors from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets conducted an unannounced visit at Kowal’s property in Manorville, where he operates his business "Blue Ribbon Puppies," the DA said.

Kowal reportedly breeds and sells various dog breeds, the DA said.

When Kowal brought the inspectors to a facility on his property where he keeps the dogs and puppies that he bred and sold, the inspectors saw snow obstructing access to the building indicating to them that no one had visited the dogs inside for at least 48 hours, the DA said.

Kowal then shoveled a path in the snow for the inspectors to access the facility; inspectors saw 23 dogs and puppies living in indoor and outdoor kennels within the facility, the DA said.

The inspectors observed several issues which they deemed "critical" and needed to be rectified, including an accumulation of feces, frozen water, insufficient space that restricted the animals’ movements, and that the temperature in the building was not adequately regulated to protect the animals from extreme cold, the DA said.

After noting the low temperature, Kowal turned on the heat inside the facility; about one hour later, inspectors determined the indoor kennel temperature rose to only 43 degrees Fahrenheit, the DA said.

Additionally, inspectors determined that numerous dogs and puppies had not received their required rabies vaccines, several did not have proper licensing, exercise plans were not properly documented or implemented, and Kowal had reportedly failed to treat sick or injured animals in accordance with a written veterinary care plan, the DA said.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets alerted the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) to the alleged violations identified during their inspection, the DA said.

On March 9, BEAST detectives, with the assistance of the Riverhead Town Police Department, executed a search warrant at Kowal’s property, and sought veterinary care for several of the animals, the DA said.

On March 11, Kowal was arraigned on 23 counts of misdemeanor animal neglect before Judge Lori M. Hulse in Riverhead Town Justice Court, the DA said.

Kowal was released because the charges are considered non-bail eligible, meaning that prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set, bail, the DA said. Kowal is due back in court on March 24, and was represented by the Legal Aid Society for his arraignment.

"The conditions that these dogs and puppies are alleged to have endured at the hands of the defendant are unacceptable," said Tierney. "Individuals who choose to breed and sell animals must ensure that the animals are provided with proper care including food, water, shelter, and veterinary care. I thank the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for their investigation and collaboration in this case, and for its continued partnership in helping to protect the welfare of animals in Suffolk County."

"Leaving dogs and puppies alone for days in freezing conditions without adequate heat, water, or sanitation is unacceptable," said John Di Leonardo, president and executive director of Human Long Island. "New York banned the retail sale of puppies in pet stores because the commercial breeding industry has repeatedly put profit ahead of animal welfare. We thank the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for taking these allegations seriously and prosecuting this case, and we urge the New York Attorney General to investigate alleged violations of the state’s puppy mill pipeline law. Dogs are not merchandise — they are living, feeling beings who depend entirely on humans for their care."