RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (1010 WINS) – A Long Island man has been charged again with animal cruelty after one of his puppies was found lying on a roadway severely injured with broken bones on New Year’s Eve.
Munim Raghid, 26, of Ronkonkoma, was arrested Thursday and charged with animal cruelty and criminal contempt.
According to the Suffolk County D.A.’s Office, Raghid was previously charged with animal cruelty in December—an ongoing case during which a judge ordered him not to possess any animals.
On Tuesday, a good Samaritan saw the injured puppy lying on a roadway in Ronkonkoma. The puppy appeared to have been hit by a car recently and could not use its legs, prosecutors said.
The good Samaritan wrapped the puppy in a blanket and raced the animal to Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists, an emergency animal hospital, where the dog was evaluated and found to have severe injuries to its back legs, prosecutors said.
The good Samaritan then returned to the area where the puppy was found and knocked on doors to find the owner. At a house near the scene, they told Raghid what happened, and he went to the veterinary clinic that night to retrieve the dog, according to the D.A.
At the clinic, staff advised him that the puppy was suffering from severe injuries and should not leave, but he allegedly took the dog anyway against their medical advice, according to prosecutors.
Investigators with the D.A. office’s animal safety team, known as BEAST, went to his home on Wednesday; they weren’t allowed access at first but returned with a search warrant, prosecutors said.
During a search of the home they found three animals, including the injured puppy, which was suffering from a fractured pelvis and leg fractures, prosecutors said.
The injured pup will need to undergo “extensive” rehabilitative surgery for the injuries, according to the D.A.’s office.
The two puppies were surrendered and are available for adoption at the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter.
"We will pursue every act of animal cruelty reported to us and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law," Suffolk D.A. Ray Tierney said.