SYRACUSE, NY – Two people have been arrested and charged for animal cruelty as a result of a monthlong investigation into the death of a dog in Syracuse.
On Tuesday, February 7thm, officers responded to a burglary complaint at a residence in the 200 block of Martin Luther King West.
While investigating the burglary, Officers received information about a white pitbull with black and brown spots allegedly being neglected in a metal crate on the upstairs apartment balcony porch. A picture of the apparent deceased dog was provided to the Officers, showing the dog in a severely neglected condition, emaciated, and surrounded by garbage and feces inside the crate.
Officers attempted to speak with one of the upstairs tenants, Genesis Evans, who denied having a dog upstairs and refused Police entry. The following day, Animal Cruelty Officers conducted a follow-up visit to the same apartment. They located the dog from the picture provided the previous day, deceased and extremely emaciated, in a metal crate in the backyard. The dog’s fur was dirty and stained with urine and feces.
The dog was immediately seized and taken to Cornell University for a necropsy, which revealed severe underweight and emaciation, and the cause of death was determined to be starvation. The necropsy report also found metal foil inside the dog’s stomach.
As a result of the investigation, it was determined that both upstairs tenants, 22-year-old Genesis Evans and 19-year-old Oceiana Thomas, were responsible for caring for the dog. Both suspects have been issued appearance tickets for one count of Aggravated Animal Cruelty, a felony, and one count of misdemeanor Animal Cruelty.