Suffolk Reporter

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney has announced initial results from "Operation Bloodhound," a collaborative effort between the DA’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) and the Suffolk County Police Department. This initiative aims to enforce laws related to animal cruelty and ensure compliance with court mandates.

Law enforcement conducted numerous compliance actions against individuals accused or previously convicted of animal cruelty offenses. The Suffolk County Police Department's Warrant Squad played a crucial role in apprehending several defendants with active warrants for failing to appear in court on charges of alleged animal neglect or abuse.

"Our fight to enforce laws against animal cruelty is not confined to courtroom walls," stated District Attorney Tierney. "We will work to ensure that defendants who disregard court orders and court appearances are found and brought to justice. I want to thank the Suffolk County Police Department Warrant Squad in particular for helping to make ‘Operation Bloodhound’ a sustained and impactful success."

Robert Waring, Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner, added, "It is up to law enforcement to ensure defenseless animals who have no voice are protected especially from those who have no right to own them. This important initiative ensures compliance of animal abusers, and I commend the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the department’s Warrant Enforcement Section officers for their efforts in this ongoing operation."

During the operation, BEAST detectives arrested four convicted animal abusers for failing to renew their registration with Suffolk County’s Animal Abuse Offender Registry. Three of these individuals had prior convictions related to dogfighting.

Additionally, unannounced spot-checks were conducted at defendants' homes. In one instance, a Calverton woman was arrested for possessing eight dogs despite a court order prohibiting her from having additional animals while her case was pending. Similarly, a Mastic Beach man faced arrest for owning four cats in violation of a 10-year prohibition following an earlier conviction.

Two defendants were apprehended on outstanding warrants for evading criminal proceedings and faced additional bail jumping charges alongside their original cruelty charges. One defendant allegedly stole a kitten from the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation before attempting assault on arresting officers.

The operation revealed that many other checked defendants complied with court orders or probation conditions.

"Operation Bloodhound" remains active as both the DA's office and police department continue working together to ensure adherence to sentences related to animal cruelty cases and apprehend further defendants with outstanding warrants.

These cases are prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys under BEAST supervision by Jed L. Painter and Brooke Salvatore.