Officer Otto Cruz, York County's Humane Hero, Dies At 47; SPCA Closes To Mourn
A beloved protector of animals and voice for the voiceless has died. Humane Society Police Officer Otoniel “Otto” Cruz passed away on Saturday, April 12, the York County SPCA announced.
The shelter closed to the public on Monday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 16, as staff mourned the loss of their cherished colleague.
Otto Cruz, 47, of York, was more than an officer—he was a bridge-builder, an advocate, and a father. Originally from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Cruz became a police officer at just 18 years old. He served for a decade before relocating to Pennsylvania, where he continued his mission …
2 Neglected Dogs Found Abandoned In Carmel Parking Lots: Woman, 55, Charged, SPCA Says
A 55-year-old woman is facing animal cruelty and abandonment charges after two severely neglected dogs were found separately in Putnam County parking lots earlier this week, authorities said.
The investigation began on Tuesday evening, April 8, around 8:54 p.m., when authorities were called to the parking lot of Saint James the Apostle Church in Carmel. There, good Samaritans discovered a severely emaciated male pit bull mix wandering alone, the Putnam SPCA announced on Saturday, April 12.
The dog, later identified as “Milo,” was immediately rushed to Guardian Veterinary Specialists f…
Killingly Man Strangled Cat, Stabbed Woman In Neck Amid ‘Downward Spiral': Police
A Connecticut man in a "downward spiral" allegedly strangled a cat to death and attacked a woman with a knife, authorities said.
Mackenzie Anderson, 26, of Killingly, was arrested Thursday, April 3, and charged with malicious killing of an animal, disorderly conduct, assault with a weapon, and unlawful restraint, Connecticut State Police said.
Troopers responded to a Killingly home on Saturday, March 29, after a woman reported that Anderson had attacked her. He denies the claims, police said.
A neighbor called 911 after the woman banged on their door around 7 a.m., pleading for help.
The …
Brutal Dog Killing: Man Grabbed Pet By Neck, Threw It Into Street In Greenburgh, DA Says
A man has been indicted for the violent killing of a small Shih Tzu dog in a shocking act of animal cruelty that took place in Westchester in late 2024, prosecutors announced.
Valhalla resident Cory Eulin, 41, was arraigned in Westchester County Court on Tuesday, April 1, on charges stemming from the Dec. 19, 2024, incident, which happened in Greenburgh, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Thursday, April 3.
According to District Attorney Susan Cacace, around 3:45 p.m. on the day of the incident, Eulin allegedly grabbed the small dog by the neck …
Record-Breaking 190 Dogs Seized From Ex-NY Giant Previously Convicted Of Dogfighting: DOJ
A former New York Giant faces dogfighting charges after authorities seized what they called the largest amount of dogs taken from a single person in a federal case.
A grand jury indicted LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, on charges related to animal fighting and trafficking, the Department of Justice said in a news release on Tuesday, Mar. 25.
Johnson, 54, was charged with possessing 190 pit bull-type dogs for use in an animal fighting venture, along with selling, transporting, and delivering a dog for use in an animal fighting venture.
"Dogfighting is a cruel, bloo…
