Queens man accused of dragging dogs behind car in shocking animal cruelty case
QUEENS, NY – Neighbors in Long Island City watched in horror as a man allegedly tied two dogs to the back of his car and drove them through the streets, forcing the animals to run for their lives until one broke free — only to be thrown back into the vehicle by the driver and whisked away.
Dan Bujor, 68, was arraigned Wednesday night on multiple animal cruelty charges after a bystander captured the disturbing incident on video. The footage, shared with police, shows Bujor allegedly dragging a German shepherd named Marzipan and a pit bull named Nougat by their leashes from the trunk of his red Volkswagen Passat near 11th Street and 43rd Avenue around 6 p.m. Friday.
According to prosecutors, one of the dogs detached during the ordeal. Witnesses say Bujor stopped the car, grabbed both animals, stuffed them into the vehicle and fled the scene. The witness alerted the NYPD, who quickly located the suspect nearby, where he was reportedly seen holding the dogs by their leashes and unable to present a valid driver’s license.
Responding officers removed the animals and transported them to the ASPCA in Manhattan. Veterinarians there treated Marzipan for a ruptured eardrum and Nougat for multiple abrasions to her paws, skin inflammation, and gastrointestinal issues. The ASPCA confirmed both dogs are currently receiving medical care.
Bujor has been charged with two counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide sustenance; and operating a vehicle without a license. He faces up to one year in jail if convicted. Queens Criminal Court Judge Anthony Battisti ordered him to return to court on March 5.
The case is being prosecuted by the Queens District Attorney’s Animal Cruelty Prosecutions Unit and Domestic Violence Bureau. Officials praised the bystander’s quick action and the coordinated response from the NYPD’s 108th Precinct and local veterinary emergency teams.
The ASPCA said it has responded to nearly 20 suspected cruelty incidents in just the past two weeks across New York City, calling the video of this incident a stark reminder of the ongoing abuse cases impacting the city’s animals.
Bujor remains free pending his next court appearance.
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Key Points
- A Queens man was charged with animal cruelty after allegedly dragging two dogs from the back of his car in Long Island City
- The incident was caught on video by a witness who alerted the NYPD; the dogs are now under ASPCA care
- The defendant faces up to one year in jail and is due back in court March 5
