Suffolk County Makes Animal Abuse by Convicts a Crime After 69 Cats Found; New Law Is Class A Misdemeanor

Authorities in Suffolk County, New York, have charged multiple individuals with animal cruelty in a series of incidents, including the discovery of 69 living cats and 28 dead cats in a suburban home. The homeowner, Stephen Glantz, faces 18 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and neglect. In a separate case, Steven Bartolomey was arrested after a pitbull named Snoopy was found living in a cage filled with urine, feces, and garbage, lacking access to food and water.

In response to recent cases, Suffolk County legislators have strengthened local animal cruelty laws. The new legislation, sponsored by Stephanie Bontempi and signed by County Executive Ed Romaine, makes it a Class A misdemeanor for individuals convicted of animal abuse to own pets, carrying penalties of up to a year in jail or a $1,000 fine. The law expands upon a 2010 animal abuse registry, now allowing enforcement against repeat offenders.

Elsewhere, authorities in Erie County, Ohio, arrested Jimmy Wiggins Jr. after he allegedly beat a puppy to death with a hammer in front of children. Wiggins faces charges including animal cruelty, two counts of child endangerment, tampering with evidence, and obstructing official business. His bond was set at $50,000 and he is scheduled to appear in court on May 16. The children's mother, Gretchen Howard, was also arrested and faces related charges, with a bond set at $20,000 and a court date of May 12.

In Greater Noida, India, a man named Nitin was arrested for animal cruelty after a video showed him dragging a dog tied to an auto rickshaw; the dog survived and is in stable condition.

On Long Island, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly is advocating for changes to New York State's cashless bail laws, which currently prevent prosecutors from seeking bail in animal cruelty cases, even in severe circumstances. Donnelly, supported by State Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, is pushing for legislation to give judges discretion to set bail for aggravated animal abuse charges. The proposed bill is currently in committee.