Confidential Tip Saves 3 Emaciated Dogs From Peekskill, NY Home

SPCA Westchester is thanking a Good Samaritan for contacting their confidential tip line and saving 3 pups.

Confidential Tip Informs Westchester County SPCA of Animal Abuse

The Westchester County SPCA shared on social media that a call to their confidential tip line gave them a heads up to a possible animal cruelty case in Peekskill, New York.

In a press release the Westchester County SPCA explains the tip brought attention to 33-year-old mother Shannon Deleg.

According to the press release Westchester Law Enforcement Unit showed up to Deleg's apartment where they discovered an emaciated pit bull "curled up in a ball whose ribs and spine were clearly visible." The dog was "skin and bones" weighing in at just 27 pounds, a dog her size should be double that weight.

The emaciated pit bull, now known as Gracie, along with 2 other mixed breed dogs were found in the apartment "locked inside a filthy, cramped cage and forced to live in thick layers of urine and feces."

The dogs were rushed to SPCA Westchester's Rescue Center and received immediate emergency care. All 3 were treated for malnourishment and dehydration.

Deleg was arrested and charged with 3 counts of animal cruelty.

Help 3 Peekskill Rescue Dogs on Their Journey to Recovery

The Chief Executive Officer at SPCA Westchester, Shannon Laukhuf, said in a statement "These poor dogs likely cried and begged for food and it’s heartbreaking that their pleas were ignored."

Laukhuf went on to add

“We are so thankful that a Good Samaritan called the SPCA’s cruelty hotline before they were starved to death.”

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SPCA Westchester is now asking the public for help, if you have the means to do so and can donate to the dogs road to recovery, you can donate through their website.

Animal Abuse Laws in New York State

According to the New York State Bar Exam, animal cruelty/abuse/neglect laws are defined as abuse to "every living creature except human beings."

It goes on to explain “Torture” or “cruelty” includes every act, omission, or neglect, whereby unjustifiable physical pain, suffering or death is caused or permitted."

The New York State Senate adds "Aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony." If one is to be convicted of aggravated cruelty to animals, the write:

A defendant convicted of this offense shall be sentenced pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section 55.10 of the penal law provided, however, that any term of imprisonment imposed for violation of this section shall be a definite sentence, which may not exceed two years.

The Westchester County SPCA asks that if you witness or suspect an animal is being neglected or abused, call the SPCA confidential animal cruelty hotline at 914-941-7797.

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