Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced Wednesday, July 15, that a Yonkers woman was indicted on multiple animal cruelty charges after she allegedly tied a one-year-old neglected, malnourished, injured, and sick dog to a gate for hours at St. John’s Cemetery last November.

 

Anita Martin, 60, was arraigned Wednesday on an indictment charging her with aggravated cruelty to animals, a class E felony, failure to provide proper sustenance, a class A misdemeanor, and abandonment of animals, an unclassified misdemeanor.

 

Following her arraignment, Martin was released on her own recognizance as none of the charges are bail eligible. She is due back in court in August.

 

“When victims cannot speak for themselves, my office will always be there to speak for them,” Cacace said. “The victim in this case, a one-year-old dog named Frankie, was given a far crueler upbringing than what was owed to him. Through today’s charges, we will seek to ensure that Ms. Martin is held accountable for her conduct toward this helpless creature. I am also pleased to announce that Frankie has since been adopted into a new home, where he will be showered with the love and care missing from the first year of his life.”

 

According to charging documents and a veterinarian’s deposition filed with the local court, on Nov. 21, Martin left a one-year-old dog named Frankie tied to a gate at St. John’s Cemetery, in Yonkers. For over three hours, Frankie was abandoned without food or water.

 

The court heard that eventually, Frankie was discovered by a good Samaritan, who phoned the police. Prosecutors said that during a subsequent medical examination, a veterinarian determined that Frankie was a one-year-old, male mastiff-mix. They said Frankie was found to have a very large and severe wound on his neck, measuring 22 centimeters long and 4 centimeters deep, according to the veterinarian’s deposition.

 

They said the gash exposed all of Frankie’s underlying tissue; it produced a foul odor, was badly infected, and had pus and drainage present, the veterinarian found.

 

They said Frankie was also found to have been extremely underweight and emaciated, with his ribs clearly visible, indicating he had not been receiving proper nutrition for an extended period of time. They said  a complex surgery was performed on the animal for lasting two hours.

 

They said that amid these challenges, Frankie has retained a “remarkably sweet and loving” demeanor, according to the veterinarian. “He becomes excited as soon as he sees anyone approaching,” the veterinarian noted. “He enjoys affection, seeks out attention and happily gives kisses to me and the staff. Despite the severity of his injuries and the neglect he suffered, he remains extremely gentle, trusting and affectionate.”

 

The investigation was conducted by Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Westchester and the Yonkers Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Animal Cruelty Coordinator Alexander Shapiro.

 

On the same day, Norwood News witnessed a large panting Pitbull tied up temporarily in the vicinity of Jerome Avenue and Mosholu Parkway in the midday heat without any shade, as saliva dripped from its mouth. Click here and see below for tips on how to keep pets safe during very hot weather.

 

KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE

• Avoid dehydration: Pets can dehydrate quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water.
• Walk your dog in the morning and evening: When the temperature is very high, do not let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Your pet’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn.
• Know when your pet is in danger: Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, unresponsiveness, or even collapse.
• Test the temperature of the pavement with the palm of your hand before taking your pets for a walk to ensure it will not burn their paws. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws.

 

The news also came on the same day that a rally and counter-protest took place outside City Hall and a hearing was held at New York City Council on the latest iteration of a proposed bill that would ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park, something animal rights advocates like PETA, NYCLASS, and Voters for Animal Rights have been campaigning vociferously for, for decades.

 

The movement to ban the practice in New York City has garnered further momentum in recent years perhaps due to a heightened awareness by the general public of how the horse-drawn carriage industry operates. Tragic stories involving the impact of the practice on horses have been shared widely on social media in recent years.

 

Images and video footage of “working” horses, Aisha, Ryder and Lady, collapsing and dying “on the job” in recent years have caused widespread outrage, while last month, an 18-year-old Indian tourist, Romanch Mahajan, was killed while he and his family were on a carriage in Central Park when the horse got spooked and took off unattended, throwing the teen to the ground as he tried to save his mother from falling out.

 

City Council Speaker Julie Menin, and Bronx City Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) were endorsed by Voters for Animal Rights (VFAR) in 2021, according to the latter. On the eve of Wednesday’s hearing, July 14, Menin announced her support for the latest iteration of the bill, which also seeks to address the need to retrain and find alternative employment for those who currently work in the horse-drawn carriage industry.

 

“Today, I’m announcing my support for Romanch’s Law. It’s time for New York City to begin the transition away from horse-drawn carriages in Central Park for the safety of New Yorkers, visitors, and the horses themselves,” the speaker said. In addition to Menin, Feliz, Queens City Council Member Lynn Schulman (C.D. 29), and several other council members have also recently backed the bill, though a vote has not yet been taken.

 

The advocacy group, NY Class, which “works to to end carriage horse abuse and gain legal protections for all animals through legislative action and activism,” wrote later on July 15, “BREAKING NEWS: We have just received a MAJORITY of cosponsors for Romanchs’s Law to ban deadly horse carriages!” 

 

The statement continued, “We currently have 26 cosponsors with many more pledging to sign on! We are grateful to @SpeakerMenin, @Lynn4NYC and the Mahajan family, hundreds of New Yorkers, horse experts, veterinarians, and others who testified today and who are still waiting to speak right now! We eagerly await a full vote in @NYCCouncil ASAP so we can prevent further tragedies and create a safer, kinder City for all. Stay tuned!”  

 

Actress Edie Falco of The Sopranos fame was among those who provided testimony at Wednesday’s lengthy hearing, along with members of Mahajan’s family, some remotely from India, former mayoral candidate and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, and those who work in the horse-drawn carriage industry, who are supported by TWU Local 100.

 

In December 2022, two horses puling a snow plough in Lisbon, NY were electrocuted and died when they stepped on a downed electrical wire.

 

Earlier on Wednesday, Feliz had said, “The issues created by horse carriages cannot be resolved through reform or training. It’s time to do what’s right. Join hearing (happening now!) to ban the rides.”