District Attorney Dan Donovan speaks with Dr. Irwin Ruderman, medical director of Staten Island Animal Hospital, at his side Tuesday. Behind them is a photo of Charlotte, a dog who was injured and left for dead but has made a recovery and has been adopted. (Staten Island Advance/Rachel Shapiro)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan unveiled a new initiative Tuesday that aims to prevent animal neglect before it rises to the level of a criminal charge.
Donovan, along with members of the veterinary and animal care community, presented the new Animal Neglect Prevention Program and hotline "that has been designed to provide top-notch veterinary medical coverage to cash-strapped pet owners," Donovan said. "Living with financial hardship can be tough, but that is no reason for the health of an animal to suffer as well."
The program comes after 14 animal abuse cases this year made its way to the DA's office.
"I foresee this as a way to stem animal abuse and for pet owners to avoid potential arrest for neglect," Donovan said. "In several of these cases, the animals were not provided medical care due to monetary restrictions of the owner."
He cited the well-known case of Charlotte, a Maltese Shih Tzu who was 3 months old at the time her owner allegedly tossed her from a car because she couldn't afford to pay for the dog's fractured femur. Charlotte suffered a fractured skull and brain trauma from the blunt force impact. She has since made a recovery and has been adopted by a new family.
The owner has been indicted on felony animal cruelty charges.
Another case is 6-year-old dog Finch, who suffered for seven months with a broken front leg. His owner allegedly couldn't afford medical care, so the fracture went untreated.
Vets couldn't repair the leg and had to amputate it, and the owner has been charged in the case.
"It is my hope that the animal neglect prevent program will stop cases like this from ever reaching my office," Donovan said.
He said there's no income maximum, but people will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility.
"Some people may use it as an excuse for neglecting their animal and we'll make sure that's true before we ask these dedicated people to volunteer their services," Donovan said.
Staten Island residents can call the DA's office at 718-876-6300 and press option 2, for an information hotline to help animals in need of health care. It will direct the caller to contact one of four animal hospitals on Staten Island participating in the program.
Owners will have to prove financial hardship to the animal hospitals that will care for the animals.
Coverage is for low- to middle-level services, and payment plans for more complicated procedures will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
"This is not a free pass for those who harm animals," Donovan cautioned. "Those cruel individuals will still be vigorously prosecuted by my office."
Dr. Lisa Hara Levin, medical director of Animal Care and Control of NYC, noted that not all animal neglect cases come as a result of intentional harm, but rather some as the result of financial hardship.
"I am so gratified that our groups ... have joined to produce such a meaningful veterinary health care avenue for animals who would otherwise be unattended and for their guardians who might otherwise face neglect charges," she said.
She hopes this program will serve as a template for other places in the city, state and country.
Dr. Irwin Ruderman, medical director of Staten Island Animal Hospital, a member of Veterinary Centers of America said, "VCA is excited to be part of this collaborative effort to help pet owners on Staten Island and surrounding areas care for their pets. Especially those pet owners facing financial challenges."
He said it's important to educate pet owners about what's best for their animals.
"Everything that happens to us, happens to them," Ruderman said. "Prevention is the key, always."