NYPD, ASPCA partnership rescues abused animals, gives them new homes with loving owners in NYC
MANHATTAN (WABC) -- The NYPD and ASPCA have partnered to give some dogs a new "leash" on life.
The two organizations are working together to take animals from cruel and inhumane situations and set them on a path to a better life.
Eyewitness News met two pups on Tuesday morning who may have died without the powerhouse partnership.
The NYPD and ASPCA work together to make it less likely for people to get away with animal abuse. The collaboration has helped 5,000 animals suspected of being abused in the last decade.
One was a 2-year-old French bulldog named Dozer who was rescued from the Bronx last April. He survived repeated punches and kicks before making it into the arms of his new owner.
"I don't know how anyone can take a little dog and abuse it like that," said Dozer's new owner, Bernadette Griffin. "But, I was happy I was able to give him a happy home."
Another life saved was Theo, a 3-year-old Yorkie. He has to sit in a special chair now to eat and drink because he was allegedly fed magnets that damaged his esophagus.
They are just two of the 5,000 animals saved from suspected abuse and cruelty. It's a record number because of the partnership between the organizations which 10 years ago only had a handful of peace officers going after the bad guys.
"It's a huge impact because you have to remember, now we have almost, what, 30,000 eyes on the street enforcing animal cruelty, where before when it was just the ASPCA , they just had a small department trying to cover this entire city," said Lt. Adrian Ashby of the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad.
Police say Dozer's rescue from his Bronx building last April was the result of specialized training that officers now receive to recognize animal abuse. The department's Animal Cruelty Squad is just a microcosm of the entire effort.
"We bring our expertise: forensics, behavior, medical. And the police bring their expertise - investigation and law enforcement," said APCA CEO Matt Bershadker.
Dozer's original owner was sentenced to a 10-year animal ban and counseling after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor.
Griffin said she is grateful but the penalties must get stiffer.
"They deserve much more punishment than what they get," Griffin said. "And they should never own pets again."
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