By Katie McFadden
Editor’s Note: Warning – the following story contains graphic details and images of animal abuse.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, February 2, dog walkers came across a horrific sight. Two dogs were left dead right at the entrance of the beach on Beach 84th Street. Local animal rescuers speculate that it’s part of a much larger and longtime issue involving dog fighting rings, and they’re holding the NYPD’s Animal Cruelty division’s feet to the fire to hopefully put an end to it.
The dogs found next to each other on Sunday were a black and white female pitbull mix that appeared to be pregnant or had recently given birth, and a tan female pitbull mix puppy. The ASCPA is currently conducting necropsies to determine how they died. However, the black and white dog was full of old and new scars, bruising, bleeding around its anal gland and nose, and an indented head, leading rescuers to believe she may have been struck over the head. The puppy allegedly showed similar signs of being hit in the head. Also at the scene were crumpled up newspaper pages and an empty bottle of sanitizer, leading rescuers to believe the culprits behind the killings tried to cover their tracks.
After police were called, Sloane Quealy-Miner, co-founder of local dog rescue Zion’s Mission, and Kim Fraser, founder of Sasha’s Mission, who often team up for rescues, showed up to investigate and help the officers on scene. “The 100th Precinct was there, and we bagged the dogs and told them how to document everything, before we carried them to the car. The officers told us that they don’t have any guidance as to how to handle any animal issues that come up and they had to call supervisors to figure out what to do. Never before had these officers taken dogs to the ASPCA,” Quealy-Miner said. Yet she doesn’t blame them. “The officers on Sunday were lovely. They didn’t know what to do because these issues are not being handled by the powers that be,” she said.
The powers that be when it comes to animal cruelty cases are the NYPD and the ASPCA. NYPD has a dedicated Animal Cruelty division, which according to a story on the unit by PIX11 on January 23, is only made up of eight detectives and a sergeant, led by Lieutenant Adrian Ashby, who the report noted is getting ready to retire. The ASPCA aids in these incidents by providing forensic evaluations, medical treatment, behavior assessments, housing and placement, and backup legal support and training.
However, Quealy-Miner says when it comes to the NYPD’s Animal Cruelty Division, “they’re not doing their job.” She says the 100th Precinct officers allegedly being unsure of what to do in Sunday’s situation, is yet another example of a lack of leadership and transparency when it comes to these situations across the city. “I was working on a situation in Brooklyn and the 71st Precinct wouldn’t take the report. It took a week of calling 911 and them not responding, for them to tell me that nobody knew how to contact Animal Cruelty,” she said. And when cases are referred to Animal Cruelty, Quealy-Miner feels the case enters a “black hole.” “When people call 311 and an officer shows up, people get mad at these cops, but they can only do what they’re told to do. There is an Animal Cruelty unit, so where are they when cops are called to the scene? We orchestrated the investigation on Sunday and the officers took the dogs to the ASPCA, but because the case was kicked to Animal Cruelty, there’s no open report at the 100th Precinct, so no one follows up and there’s no transparency as they say it’s an open investigation,” Quealy-Miner.
Doing some investigating of their own, Quealy-Miner and Fraser have been seeking tips about the two dogs found dead on Sunday, and believe it’s tied to alleged ongoing dog-fighting activities at the Hammels Houses, just up the block from where the two dogs were found. “It’s a normal, everyday thing there. They’ve been doing it for decades. These dogs were found out in the open, but it just reminds you that others are getting beaten or sitting bleeding in crates. That’s what’s in your head when you’re seeing these two in front of you,” Fraser said. “These dogs were brutalized and it’s heartbreaking and it’s as if nobody cares about them. It’s a reminder all the other animals that have died in vain and are being thrown out like trash,” Quealy-Miner said.
Sharing tips from Hammels residents who want to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution from those operating dog fighting rings, one resident told Quealy-Miner that these activities often take place within the building itself. “People started complaining because the sounds of the dog fights is SCARY,” a text read. The resident added that management has complained because they often find dead dogs in the trash chutes for the building, which is why Quealy-Miner and Fraser believe the latest dogs were dropped on the beach instead. Quealy-Miner says the situation has become dangerous for the residents of the building, as the activities sometimes spill into public areas. “If it’s in the hallway, now people are trapped in their apartments or elevator,” the resident’s text said.
Another tip said their child went to an apartment for a play date and allegedly there was a trail of blood leading to the apartment. When the child entered the apartment, they claim there was a dying dog screaming. The child, who has developmental delays, was left traumatized. The parent of the child said the friend’s mom in the apartment was dating a dog fighter but was allegedly unaware of what was taking place while she was at work. “The good people trapped in Hammels are under siege and they are terrified,” Quealy-Miner said.
With Sunday’s incident sounding a public alarm about the alleged activities, the rescuers are becoming increasingly frustrated by inaction. “You can’t find a way to contact the Animal Cruelty unit. Lt. Ashby’s email isn’t anywhere. People call NYPD and they don’t know how to get in touch with Animal Cruelty. It took my lawyer five times trying to contact them for them to get back to her, and they shut our concerns down. We’re really frustrated, and we want to help these animals and these people. Those two dead dogs might not have been killed if all of these people had been held accountable to do their jobs years ago,” Quealy-Miner said.
The rescuers have resorted to calling local Councilwoman Joann Ariola, who helped arrange a Zoom call with Lt. Ashby last month in response to insufficient action surrounding the animal sacrifices taking place around Jamaica Bay, to help with this latest incident. “If it weren’t for Joann Ariola, we’d be getting no information on these two dogs after they were taken to the ASPCA,” Quealy-Miner said.
In response to this incident and the claims of the NYPD Animal Cruelty unit’s alleged inaction, Ariola says she’s staying on top of the issue and has been in contact with Lt. Ashby. “I had a conversation with Lt. Ashby from the NYPD and findings are as follows, thus far. The necropsy is still being done because there are two pups. It includes X-rays, blood, etc. It usually takes five days from when all tests are completed to get a determination. Our office will be made aware as soon as the results are back. Additionally, animal cruelty is canvassing the videos at the Hammel Houses. It is a full investigation. We will continue to be on top of the issue,” Ariola said on Tuesday.
In the meantime, Quealy-Miner and Fraser are spending all of their free time doing what they can to raise awareness and seek out tips that may be able to help them identify whoever killed the two dogs found on Sunday. They are seeking camera footage, hanging up flyers around the Hammels and the surrounding area and are requesting people to text or call them at 917-648-9808 or 347-229-6873. “We want info on who these dogs belonged to or what sort of situation they were in and if other dogs are being kept there. We’ll take anonymous tips, anything to find out what’s going on here,” Quealy-Miner said.
Additionally, call 311 for suspected animal abuse or neglect or 911 for crimes in progress. According to New York State law, anyone found guilty of the felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals, could face up to two years in prison.
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