NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A man allegedly threw and burned his 14-week-old puppy in a “horrific” animal abuse case out of Manhattan.
Joseph Kauffmann, 22, was indicted Tuesday by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office on charges of aggravated animal cruelty and overdriving, torturing and injuring animals.
He’s accused of abusing his Border Collie, Luca, on March 27.
According to prosecutors, Kauffmann threw Luca off a bed and then washed the puppy with scalding hot water in a bathtub.
Luca was unable to walk the next morning, so Kauffmann took him to BluePearl Pet Hospital, where the dog was found to have numerous injuries, including two femur fractures, three rib fractures and severe burns on his back, ear, forehead, eye and muzzle, prosecutors said.
Luca underwent surgery at ASPCA Animal Hospital on April 1 to fix his femurs. He remained at the hospital until late May as he continued to receive medical attention on his road to recovery.
Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg told 1010 WINS on Tuesday that animal abuse cases like this are “very sobering” and that it’s “very important to send a message that this is unlawful criminal conduct, as alleged here, and that we will hold people accountable for it.”
“We see these injuries—fractures, rib fractures, femur fractures, severe burns,” Bragg said. “This is serious conduct, we do see it in other cases, as well.”
John Davis contributed to this report.