SPCA Westchester announced today that their Humane Law Enforcement Unit (HLE), under the direction of Ernest Lungaro, in a joint investigation with Rye Brook Police, arrested Anthony Lopez of Port Chester, New York, and charged him with animal cruelty.
SPCA Westchester’s HLE Unit received a call on its confidential cruelty hotline that a young cat named Mittens had been violently thrown by Lopez at a residence in Rye Brook, NY. A video recording captured the frightened cat being grabbed and thrown across the front yard two times during a dispute. Mittens has since received proper medical care from a veterinarian, including treatment for a laceration sustained on her head.
“The video depicting the abuse of this cat was very disturbing,” said Shannon Laukhuf, SPCA Westchester’s Chief Executive Officer. “We’re relieved that she is now safe and receiving the care she needs. The SPCA is committed to preventing the abuse and neglect of animals whenever it occurs.”
If you witness or suspect an animal is being neglected or abused, please call the SPCA’s confidential animal cruelty hotline at (914) 941-7797.
To view the video, please copy and paste this link into your web browser: https://youtu.be/Evt9FDp9qYU
*SPCA Westchester’s Animal Rescue Center is located in Briarcliff Manor and is NOT affiliated with any national animal welfare organizations. Learn more at spcawestchester.org.
