Published: March 28, 2008

Man Busted for Animal Cruelty in the Bronx

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The ASPCA recently announced the arrest of 61-year-old New Yorker, Jose Semprit, on charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty. Semprit is the owner of a 10-month-old pit bull puppy whose right hind leg has been completely severed from his body. It is not yet known when, how or by whom the leg was removed, but the amputation was not performed in a professional, surgical manner-nor had the resulting wound been treated by a veterinarian.

Alarmed by the dog's condition and hoping to get him help, Semprit's neighbor brought the dog to the Manhattan branch of New York City Animal Care & Control (NYCACC) in late January. The nature of the injury and the mystery of its origin prompted NYCACC to contact ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement. The dog was immediately transferred to our Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. "We don't know exactly how old the wound was when we first saw the dog on January 28. It was not bleeding, but it certainly had the appearance of raw flesh that was far from healed," says the ASPCA's Joseph Pentangelo, Assistant Director, Humane Law Enforcement.

Following an investigation, on March 6 ASPCA Special Agent Kristi Adams arrested Semprit without incident outside his Bronx home. While he admits to ownership, Semprit is so far refusing to reveal what happened to the pup's leg, and at his arraignment pleaded "not guilty" to charges of neglect to treat a serious wound. If convicted, Semprit faces up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. The puppy, who has been renamed Georgie, is currently recuperating in a foster home.

If you know of an animal whose health is being compromised by neglect, please report it. In New York City, contact the ASPCA's anonymous tip line at (877) THE-ASPCA. To learn how to report cruelty elsewhere, visit our Report Cruelty section.

Source: ASPCA

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com