Life-Threatening Dog Neglect: Putnam SPCA Arrest

KENT, NY — A dog so severely neglected it was near death was rescued Saturday. Its owner was arrested by Putnam County SPCA officers.

The Putnam County SPCA Humane Law Enforcement Division was contacted by the Town of Kent Dog Control Officer regarding a dog found on Dean Road. The dog was familiar to the Dog Control Officer because it had been loose numerous times.

Because of the condition of the dog, the Dog Control Officer brought it to Carmel Animal Hospital.

The vets found the 4-year-old Great Pyrenees was in a severe state of neglect. The dog had large amounts of fecal matter strewn throughout its coat, large thick hair mats constricting the its ability to produce waste, and urine-soaked matting which constricted the its ability to produce urine.

The dog’s nails had become overgrown and curled under causing pain to its paws. The dog was also found to have maggots coming from its snout area to the unsanitary conditions it was living in its owners barn across from his residence on Dean Road.

The veterinarian who examined the dog stated that without immediate veterinary and after-care, the dog would have possibly died within days.

The dog was treated and is currently under veterinary care.

Upon investigation, PCSPCA officers were able to determine that the dog had only been loose from the residence for a short period of time, and had been under the owner’s care living in this condition.

Omer Fahim, 30, was charged with animal cruelty/neglect, a Class A misdemeanor under the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law. The dog will be placed with a Great Pyrenees rescue group after continued veterinary care.