Injured Beagle's Owner Charged With Animal Cruelty

CARMEL, NY — A beagle found loose on Route 6 in Carmel was rescued by a good samaritan who saw multiple injuries, including three gaping holes pierced in its neck by a too-tight "barking collar." (A graphic photo of the dog's neck is at the bottom of this article.)

The dog, which was filthy and stinky, also had untreated fly/mite bites on its ears, a gash on its back and a possible tumor on one leg.

A call went out to the Putnam County SPCA, who had the injured beagle named Snoopy transported to a veterinarian hospital where it is currently being held and treated.

On Saturday, Putnam County SPCA officers arrested Nuno M. Afonso-Gouveia of Yonkers and charged him with animal neglect, a misdemeanor in the state Agriculture and Markets law.

“We have seen this type of injury many times in the past," said SPCA CHIEF Ken Ross. "Pet owners need to check their pet’s collars frequently so this sort of injury doesn’t happen, especially if they are collars that transmit a shock to the animal (invisible fence and barking collars). When the collar’s prongs penetrate through the animal’s fur, the shock is often to the muscle which causes pain and increases the risk of infection.”

Afonso-Gouveia will be arraigned April 23 in Carmel town court.

The Putnam County SPCA 24 Hour Hotline – 845-520-6915 and its website is www.spcaputnam.org