MAHOPAC, N.Y. - A Mahopac woman was arrested on Thursday (April 10) and charged with two counts of animal cruelty and two counts of animal abandonment.
Investigators from the Putnam County SPCA Law Enforcement Division say the saga began when they were dispatched to Saint James the Apostle Church parking lot in Carmel via a 911 call. A severely emaciated male pit bull mix had been found wandering the lot by good Samaritans. SPCA detectives transported the dog to Guardian Veterinary Specialists for emergency care.
The dog, later found to be named Milo, was examined and found to weigh only 37 pounds when it should have weighed around 60 pounds. The dog's ribs, spine, and hip bones were easily visible, and there was an obvious loss of muscle mass.
At the same time that Milo was found at the church, another dog named Elly was found in the Tacoland Carmel parking lot and was transported to the Putnam Humane Society by the Carmel dog control officer. Elly, a medium-sized, long-haired mixed-breed dog, was found to be severely matted and neglected as well.
Over the next two days, the Putnam County SPCA Law Enforcement Division initiated a criminal investigation, and through assistance from the Danbury Animal Control Division, the Putnam Humane Society, and Guardian Veterinary Specialists, detectives were able to locate the owner of both dogs at her residence in Mahopac.
On April 10, after an interview with the suspect, SPCA detectives placed Ginas Riccio, 55, of Mahopac under arrest for allegedly committing two counts of animal cruelty and two counts of animal abandonment.
Article courtesy of the Putnam County SPCA
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