As a result of the citywide outrage of the deaths of Ruby Thomas' dogs in Police custody that was reported on the front page the Daily News (8/5/99), the ASPCA promptly fired off a letter to the Police Commissioner protesting inhumane police policy.

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY
FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
America's First Humane Society
424 East 92nd Street
New York, NY 10128
(212) 876-7700
(212) 348-3031 Fax

 

August 5, l 999

Police Commissioner Howard Safir
New York City Police Departmnent
Via Facsimile and regular mail
FAX #227-6861

Dear Commissioner Safir:

A citizen complaint to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ("The ASPCA") alleges that on July 28, l 999, NYPD Officers Tacoronte and Gallo of the 79th Precinct placed two live Rottweiller dogs in the trunk of their patrol car, and transported them to the Center for Animal Care and Control ("CACC"). The air temperature was over 90° that day. Not surprismgly, the dogs were dead on arrival at the CACC, and according to their report, "extremely hot to touch." This all occurred in connection with the apprehension of a juvenile for alleged dogfighting, which may also have been simply an encounter with a stray dog.

At the request of the owner of the dogs, Mrs. Ruby Thomas of l 99 Madison Avenue in Brooklyn, The ASPCA performed a necropsy on the dogs. The preliminary results of our examination indicate that the cause of their death is consistent with overexposure to heat, and there is no indication that the dogs had any life-threatening pre-existing health condition at the time of death. A copy of the preliminary necropsy report is enclosed for your reference. We understand that this matter is also being investigated by the Internal Affairs Bureau, and we would be glad to provide them with a copy as well.

Mrs. Thomas relayed to us that Officers Tacoronte and Gallo told her that it is NYPD policy and procedure to transport dogs in the trunk of the patrol car. As far as we have been able to ascertain, the current NYPD written policy on animal transportation allows for animals to be transported in patrol cars, but does not explicitly state that animals should or should not be placed in the trunk. We urge that the policy be amended to state specifically that when live animals are transported in patrol cars, they must be placed in the back seat and never in the trunk. It is extremely dangerous to carry live animals in the trunk of a car for many reasons, including toxic fumes and heat, no matter what the outside temperature is. It simply should never be done. If civilians did this, The ASPCA would arrest them for animal cruelty under the NYS Agriculture and Markets Law, section 353.

The ASPCA is ready and willing to assist in training the NYPD in appropriate and safe animal handling techniques. I have asked Dale Riedel, Vice-President of Humane Law Enforcement, to call your office to arrange a meeting to discuss this issue and how we can work with the NYPD.

In conclusion, The ASPCA strongly urges you to clarify immediately the NYPD's policy regarding live animal transportation. Additionally, if the results of the Internal Affairs investigation confirm the above assertions, we encourage you to seriously discipline Officers Tacoronte and Gallo for their extremely poor judgment and inhumane treatment of animals.

Sincerely,

/s/ Larry Hawk, D.V.M.

President & Chief Executive Officer