LI Man Busted After Posting Photo To Dating App Of Family Dog Performing Sexual Act: SPCA

HAUPPAUGE, NY — A Mastic Beach man was busted by Suffolk investigators after he posted a photo to a social networking and dating site of himself with his family dog performing a sexual act on him, the Suffolk Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said.

A complainant saw the snapshot on Grindr, and notified the SPCA on Oct. 15, 2025, and the organization was then able to work with a facial recognition expert at the police department, who linked the man to the Mastic Beach Fire Department, Lt. Ray Alvarez said.

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He identified himself as from Mastic Beach, according to the complainant, and one of the posts said he was into zoophilia, "which really disturbed the complainant," Alvarez said, adding, "And I believe that same day the complainant reached out to us to file the report."

The man, who is no longer with the fire department, but is a member of the Mastic Beach Ambulance Company, according to Alvarez.

Patch has reached out to Grindr, and the fire department. The chief of the ambulance company was not immediately available for comment.

His attorney, Albert Notaro of East Patchogue, declined comment.

After the complaint, Grindr was notified of the investigation, and "ultimately, from a photo that the suspect provided," the SPCA reached out for help from Suffolk police, and an analyst, through facial recognition, was successfully able to get a posting of him, "and it had to do with an organization that he was affiliated with at the time," Alvarez said.

With that post, Alvarez reached out to a different person in the police department who was knowledgeable of Mastic Beach, and he got a positive ID of the man, he added.

Before April, investigators enacted a search warrant of where the man lives with his family, and that was where the dog was located, according to Alvarez.

The dog, a female mastiff breed, was seized along with several electronic devices that belonged to the man, he said.

The dog was taken to the Brookhaven Town Animal Shelter and Adoption Center and has since been released to a family member who does not live with the man, according to Alvarez.

The man, 19, was arrested June 4 on charges of sexual misconduct, a misdemeanor, for sexual conduct with an animal, and two counts of sexual performance by a child, a felony, for possessing child pornography, Alvarez said, adding that as part of his indictment, he was arraigned July 30 on 25 felonies.

He was held on $25,000 cash bail, or $50,000 secured bond, but has since been released, according to Alvarez.

Patch has reached out to District Attorney Ray Tierney's office.

"It's just very disturbing," SPCA Chief Roy Gross said. "Of course, it does happen. What we don't know is what happens behind closed doors. Obviously, and then finding the child cases, that was just adding to this horrible situation."

There were about 10 investigators assigned to the case between the SPCA, police, and the sheriff's office.

The organization has previously investigated similar cases in the county, such as the group of homeless men that were having sex with barnyard animals, as well as another case with women having sex with dogs, Gross said.

The man has since been barred from contact with animals, and, if convicted of the sexual misconduct charge, he could be placed on the county's animal abuser registry.

Alvarez also described the case as extremely disturbing, and noted that it's not something heard about "every day."

"You know, hopefully, justice prevails," he said. "I'm sure it will, and he'll get his due punishment, but it is quite disturbing."

"You don't want to see this, you know, happen at all, much less any sort of you know animal cruelty, but this one just kind of hits you a little hard," he added.

The SPCA is asking anyone who may have witnessed any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in the county, to contact them at 631-382-7722.

This is a breaking story and will be updated. Check back later.