Woman arrested for stabbing pitbull puppy
UTICA, March 11, 2010 – A Utica woman faces misdemeanor animal cruelty charges after stabbing a pitbull puppy in the head with a steak knife, according to police.
Utica Deputy Police Chief John Toomey said Rebecca L. Spratt, 24, of 319 Rutger Street, allegedly stabbed the white and black puppy during a heated domestic incident police responded to Wednesday morning.
UPD arrived at Spratt’s home at 8:15 a.m., where she and her companion had reportedly been arguing, Toomey said.
“It was during a definitely heated altercation that she stabbed the dog,” he said. “What the motive was to injure the dog, I don’t know – whether it was retaliation against the owner or if she was mad at something the dog did.”
Because the six-month-old puppy does not belong to her, he will be returned to his owner after he’s treated for his injuries, Toomey said.
“He was turned over to Burrstone Animal Hospital and he’ll be returned back to (the owner),” Toomey said.
Jerry Kraus of the Stevens-Swan Humane Society, said the dog suffered the head wound and the loss of a significant amount of blood. The injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Apparently Spratt also damaged property belonging to the dog’s owner, and faces misdemeanor criminal mischief charges as well, Toomey said. She was in the city lockup until her arraignment in Utica City Court Wednesday afternoon, and then remanded to Oneida County Jail in lieu of $3,000 bail.
This isn’t the first recent incident of animal abuse in the area.
“We have had it in the past, but now we make it a point to follow through,” Kraus said. “We’ve pointed out the fact that we’re seeking justice in these matters.”
And working for an animal shelter, he and his colleagues have seen some pretty severe cases that stay with them always.
“There was one abuse case where one of our workers – Linda – took the dog home because she knew it couldn’t make it alone after what it had been through,” Kraus said. “So, yeah, we get very attached to these cases.”
Other recent animal abuse cases:
- In February 2010, Utica Police arrested Shawn Kimball after an investigation revealed he shot his girlfriend’s family kitten, Marshmallow, with a gas-powered air pistol three times, resulting in what the autopsy revealed was a slow and painful death.
- In January 2010, Edward Paul Ruggerio was arrested by Little Falls Police after someone reported that he ripped a chunk of hair from an 8-week-old New Foundland puppy with a power drill. Police seized Buddy and turned him over to the Herkimer County Humane Society. After Ruggerio surrendered him, he was adopted out to a new family.
- In November of 2009, Utica Police arrested Gregory Patterson, 20, and Lashanta Jackson, 23, both of Wall Street in Utica, for misdemeanor animal abuse. The one year-old pitbull mix was severely emaciated. Annie was brought into the Stevens-Swan Humane Society by an animal control officer after her owners allegedly neglected her.
- In October of 2008, Dennis Van Buren, 50, of Columbus Avenue, Utica, was arrested by Utica Police and charged with animal cruelty. He allegedly picked up a 10-week-old pitbull puppy by its legs and threw it against a wall, causing severe head trauma and a fractured right front leg, officials said. The dog was rescued by Utica's Animal Control officer.
- In February of 2008, Shaun Patrick Sullivan, 28 of 59 Burwell Street, Little Falls was arrested for felony aggravated animal cruelty by LFPD after he allegedly beat his dog to death.
- October of 2007, Mark A. Beacraft, then 22, of Little Falls, was arrested by LFPD for aggravated animal cruelty after he admitted to killing a cat on the South side of the city. He allegedly committed the act in a bandstand gazebo in Columbia Park.
- In May of 2007, Oneida County Sheriff's Deputies arrested John D. Bouyea, 39, of Quiet Valley Trailer park on Simmons Road in Vernon, for aggravated animal cruelty. Bouyea allegedly stabbed his 6-year-old pitbull, Baby, several times.
- In May of 2007, Natasha Daniels of 126 Boyce Avenue in Utica, was arrested for animal cruelty after law enforcement -- originally busting her on drug charges -- found two pitbulls that had been kept in her attic for two years. The dogs were released to the Stevens-Swan Humane Society after living amongst garbage in their own urine and feces.