NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Long Island man was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly neglecting and later starving his dog, Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said.
The investigation found that on July 1, Kevin Barnett, 70, had brought the dead dog, "Jessica," wrapped in a filthy blanket, to the West Hempstead Animal Hospital requesting a group cremation, prosecutors said.
"This deceased animal was virtually skin and bones when the defendant brought her to be cremated at a local animal hospital," Donnelly said. "A necropsy performed on 'Jessica' revealed the animal had been ingesting non-food items shortly before her death, indicating that she was starving and searching for food."
The dog appeared to be severely malnourished, with visibly protruding ribs and overgrown nails. A subsequent necropsy determined the cause of death to be starvation.
Detectives located a microchip on "Jessica," identifying Barnett as the owner.
There had been no recorded veterinary care for the dog since 2017, the investigation revealed.
Barnett is facing charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance, and a misdemeanor.
"Shockingly, the defendant attempted to adopt another dog through a local animal shelter just a few weeks before his arrest," Donnelly said. "Having a pet means taking on responsibility for the health and wellbeing of that animal. Any allegation of neglect or abuse of animals will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted by my office."
Barnett entered a plea of not guilty. The court has decided on Pre-Trial Services Agency supervision and electronic monitoring for Barnett's bail conditions, also imposing a ban on him from possessing any animals. If found guilty, Barnett could face a sentence of up to four years in prison.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 27.
