RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Long Island man was arrested in what is an ongoing animal cruelty investigation after allegedly shooting two German Shepherds in the head with a rifle, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said.
Carlos Lauro, 76, has been initially charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and three counts of neglect of an impounded animal, a misdemeanor, officials said.
The ongoing investigation began on Jan. 10, when a one-year-old German Shepherd was taken to a veterinary hospital in Westbury, paralyzed from a gunshot wound, prosecutors said.
A witness told authorities that at around 5:30 p.m., the dog, named “Blitzkrieg,” was found shot and laying in a pen on Lauro’s property next to a dead goat.
Detectives with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Biological, Environmental & Animal Safety Team (BEAST) went to Lauro’s home to find that he had previously shot and killed another German Shepherd, a six-month-old puppy, prosecutors said.
Lauro allegedly shot the puppy, “Cranky,” once in the back of the head for refusing to go in the house.
When another resident took Cranky inside to comfort him and treat his wounds, Lauro allegedly pulled the animal outside and shot him in the head.
On the property in Riverhead, investigators found five live Belgian Malinois/Dutch Shepherd mix dogs, a Border Collie, two German Shepherds and a multitude of goats, pigs, cows, chickens, officials said.
BEAST detectives returned with help from the Riverhead Police Department a day later, on Jan. 11, to execute a search warrant and arrest Lauro for allegedly shooting the dogs.
At the scene, investigators found numerous dead animals, including a baby goat and pig, prosecutors said. Their deaths are being investigated.
The live animals – which included eight dogs, goats, pigs, cows and chickens – were found to be living in neglect, with no access to clean food and water.
Humane Long Island has been assisting the investigation by helping the farm animals find foster care, officials said.
“Animals, whether dogs or goats, sheep or chickens experience terror and fight for their lives just as we would when faced with the prospect of slaughter, yet for the animals at this illegal backyard slaughter operation, the experience was made even more horrific, with sick and injured animals living among the corpses of their friends,” anthrozoologist and Executive Director of Humane Long Island John Di Leonardo said.
According to Town of Riverhead Attorney Erik C. Howard, Lauro has been the subject of numerous town complaints regarding the conditions and activities of his property.
Howard said that responses by the Riverhead Town Attorney’s Office have yielded prosecutions for “illegal animal sales, attempts to operate an illegal slaughterhouse, dilapidated and illegal structures, loose farm animals, and general property maintenance.”
Lauro was ordered to be held without bail at his arraignment, and his next court date is Jan. 17. He is being represented by the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County.
“This is a particularly horrific example of cruelty,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “While we unfortunately could not rescue all of the animal victims that our investigators found on this defendant’s property, we will seek justice for them.”