ERIE COUNTY, NY – Joelier A. Santiago, 21, of Buffalo, faced sentencing on Thursday before Buffalo City Court Judge Kevin J. Keane. Santiago received a one-year conditional discharge, inclusive of a 360-hour community service commitment. He has also been directed to the Court Outreach Unit: Referral and Treatment Services (COURTS) program for mental health assessment.
Santiago caused significant injuries to two puppies on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, within a Louisiana Street apartment in Buffalo. “Milo,” a 2-month-old male Maltese, showed severe bruising due to excessive force. Despite initially being unresponsive, “Milo” has since recovered and returned to his owner.
A 10-month-old female Maltese puppy named “Nala” succumbed to her injuries, a necropsy confirming blunt force trauma as the cause of death. Santiago pled guilty to two counts of Overdriving, Torturing, and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance on March 14, 2023. Judge Keane has now ordered Santiago not to own or care for any animals for the next five years.