A Far Rockaway woman was criminally charged with animal abuse after the NYPD found a malnourished dog chained to a small box without food or water in deplorable conditions inside her Seagirt Boulevard apartment in late December.
Evadne Harrington, 41, was arraigned on Mar. 25 in Queens Criminal Court on charges of overdriving; torturing, and injuring animals/failure to provide sustenance; and failure to provide proper food and drink to an impounded animal, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday.
According to the charges, police from the 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway responded to a request for medical aid at Harrington’s apartment at 5:20 p.m. on Dec. 21, where they found Puddin, a black and white, mixed-breed female dog in a corner, tied to a box-like structure with a chain approximately 6 inches long, making it impossible for her to move freely. A collar-shaped metal device was fastened around her neck and face, secured by a padlock. There was no food or water bowls near Puddin, nor dog food in the apartment.
Puddin was emaciated with her spine, ribs and hip bones protruding. Her coat was damp with urine, patchy and covered with dirt and dander.
When officers freed Puddin from the chain, she immediately ran to the bathroom and drank water from the toilet. The officers used bolt cutters to remove the padlocked collar and observed a thickened scar with scabbing across the top of Puddin’s muzzle.
Harrington gave officers permission to take the animal for veterinary treatment and relinquished ownership of Puddin to the ASPCA.
“The abuse of voiceless, defenseless creatures is unconscionable,” Katz said. “Puddin thankfully was rescued from her miserable conditions. We look forward to holding her abuser accountable.”
Harrington faces up to a year in jail if convicted. Queens Criminal Court Judge Jeffrey Gershuny ordered her to return to court on July 1.
Puddin was taken to the ASPCA’s Animal Recovery Center emaciated, dehydrated, and appeared to be suffering from a skin disease and other medical concerns. Puddin was immediately admitted to the ASPCA’s ICU for urgent medical treatment and was placed on a research-based re-feeding schedule to prevent refeeding-related illness, a potentially fatal complication that can occur if an undernourished animal is overfed after a long period of inadequate nutrition. Once she improved medically, Puddin was placed with a foster caregiver and is now available for adoption.
“Supporting victimized animals by bringing them to safety, providing them with the care they need and ensuring they find new, loving homes, is the most rewarding and impactful outcome of our longstanding collaborative work with law enforcement in New York City,” said David Little, senior director, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement. “Puddin is just one example of the many animal lives that have been saved through the ASPCA’s decade-long partnership with the New York City Police Department, and we are grateful to be in a position where we can give second chances to vulnerable animals who need us most.”
