Seriously, what is wrong with people?
Albany police say they arrested a man today after an officer allegedly saw the man "pick up his nine week old pit bull mix by the leash and swing him 10 feet in the air before allowing the puppy to land on his head on the concrete sidewalk." The APD says the dog vomited several times and had an injured leg, but it looks like he will recover. The department says an officer at Center Station is planning to adopt the dog. (Full release after the jump.) Quick note about comments: expressing disgust and a desire for justice is totally understandable and acceptable. Wishing violence upon someone is not.
Albany Police Department press release
Albany police arrested a 22 year old Spring Street man for animal cruelty after a police officer on patrol witnessed him pick up his nine week old pit bull mix by the leash and swing him 10 feet in the air before allowing the puppy to land on his head on the concrete sidewalk.
Patrick Gray, of 442 Spring Street was charged this morning with Torturing an Animal under the New York State Agriculture and Market Law. Torturing an animal is a misdemeanor. He was arraigned in Albany City Criminal Court at 11:00 a.m.
Officer William Pierce was on patrol this morning at 7:15 a.m. when he witnessed Gray swinging his dog with the leash around the dog's neck above his head in a circle like a lasso. He did that several times and then let the dog drop to the sidewalk on its head. Officer Pierce immediately checked on the dog and he had injured his right leg and vomited several times. The puppy was taken by Animal Control to Central Vet to be examined. He sustained minor injuries from the incident but will fully recover. He has since been transferred to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.
Gray was taken into custody at the scene and taken to Central Booking for processing.
Once the puppy is available to be adopted he is going to be adopted by Officer Adam Brace, a 2 year veteran of the department. Officer Brace was finishing up his shift at the Center Station and decided to adopt the dog after playing with him at the station. The dog's name is Roscoe.
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Comments
Poor Roscoe! What a dirtbag his old owner is! Glad he's going to a good home so quickly, though!
... said Ashley on Aug 5, 2011 at 1:17 PM | link
This story makes me want to vomit a few times just thinking about what that poor dog had to endure. I'm glad the cops were there in time to witness this heinous act.
... said Mike on Aug 5, 2011 at 1:30 PM | link
The dog's name just happened to be Roscoe, same as the sheriff from Dukes of Hazzard?
... said Tim on Aug 5, 2011 at 1:41 PM | link
Thank God he was caught in the act. I pray to God this guy doesn't have kids or other animals at home.
... said Kim on Aug 5, 2011 at 2:06 PM | link
Sadly, torturing an animal is a only a misdemeanor.
... said miles on Aug 5, 2011 at 2:06 PM | link
I am extremely impressed with the officer. All too often people turn and look the other way when it comes to animal abuse. He will have the greatest friend now. I own 3 pit bulls and they are the best. The dog is a lucky guy. Great job Officer Brace!
... said E.C. Stumpf on Aug 5, 2011 at 2:27 PM | link
Hurray for officer Brace!
... said Mayr on Aug 5, 2011 at 2:31 PM | link
Thanks to the officer who ACTED. Having had to call animal control several times only to be seemingly ignored, it's good to hear that someone is doing SOMETHING.
... said kicknknit on Aug 5, 2011 at 2:46 PM | link
I'm so glad this had a happy ending. Thanks to both Officers Pierce and Brace!
... said ChristineV on Aug 5, 2011 at 3:06 PM | link
As horrifying as this is, it might've been Roscoe's luckiest day ever-- out of an awful situation and into a new home. Kudos to Officer Pierce, and best wishes to Officer Brace and Roscoe on a long and happy life together!
... said Alice Person on Aug 5, 2011 at 3:18 PM | link
I'm going to refrain from saying everything that's in my heart, because it's really not nice. I will just echo everyone else's sentiments in saying thank goodness for Officer Pierce & Brace, and I'm so relieved this story has a happy ending. I wish everyone took animal abuse that seriously.
... said Summer on Aug 5, 2011 at 3:33 PM | link
A good reminder for me to make a donation to my local animal shelter. There are a lot of wonderful people & potential pets out there. Please do a follow up on Roscoe -- thanks! :)
... said Julie on Aug 5, 2011 at 3:34 PM | link
Amazing that this was witnessed.
And it rests on everyone to speak out
for stronger penalties.
An 'animal abuser' should be tagged
for years since we all know the well
documented connection with those that
abuse & torture animals before they
turned to humans.
Very impressed with APD. Now let's see
what the courts deal out. AOA, thanks for
covering this!
... said bob on Aug 5, 2011 at 3:42 PM | link
THIS ARTICLE IS FALSE. BEING A GOOD FRIEND OF PATS, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. He would never do something like this. Wrong place, wrong time.
... said That bitch on Aug 5, 2011 at 3:48 PM | link
Thank you to Officers Pierce and Gray! In a way this little guy is lucky this happened- if it hadn't he may have been stuck with this loser as his owner for a lot longer, and endured god knows what else over the years.
Thank you to the Mohawk Humane Society for caring for Roscoe while he recovers! He will get lots of love there as he heals!
... said Tara on Aug 5, 2011 at 3:55 PM | link
This story is a complete fabrication, and those of us who know the owner know this wasn't what occurred at all. Lovely though, how the happy ending of the Veteran adopting Roscoe makes the APD look good.
... said MJ on Aug 5, 2011 at 3:55 PM | link
The actions of this person are truly reprehensible, but the true tragedy is that in the eyes of the law this is only a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor!?! That is a true injustice that can only be changed by the rest of us standing up and taking action. Kudos to the officer who decided to adopt Roscoe.
... said BlondeBomber19 on Aug 5, 2011 at 4:16 PM | link
yea, I'm sure its all a hoax to make the APD look good
nice mugshot by the way.
... said miles on Aug 5, 2011 at 4:19 PM | link
First of all...a dog does NOT sustain a leg injury from being dropped on its head..BOOM. second, IF a puppy was to be yanked 10 feet in the air and dropped on its head then it'd either be dead or have some head injury..but its head was fine..BOOM. so this article CLEARLY exagerates what reallly happened. Thirdly, I know Pat personally and I can say truthfully that he would never in a million years hurt his new puppy...he loves that animal so much and I've seen it with my own eyes...this did not happen and Pat Gray is innocent..BOOM. and finally, if you knew pat then you would laugh at this story because he wouldn't even think about hurting his puppy..he just got it and loves it soo much. Pig probably had a stick up his cornhole then again, what cop doesn't..BOOOOM.
... said mike on Aug 5, 2011 at 4:21 PM | link
Thank God the officer was there, saw the abuse, and spoke up!! All pit bulls deserve love, they are the best dogs.
... said A. T on Aug 5, 2011 at 6:07 PM | link
For all of pats friends.. You should be embarrassed to even be associated with scum like this.. Becareful people who torture animals eventually turn to people, so sleep with one eye open one of these days the so called "pigs" you speak of may just save your life.. The only pig in this story is pat. You really expect people to beleive that a police officer made this whole story up to get a free pitbull puppy as of there are not hundreds up for adoption?? Get a life and some new friends... BOOOM loser
... said Disgusted on Aug 5, 2011 at 9:09 PM | link
Pattyi Grey sounds about at smart as the people who defend him.
... said Tim on Aug 5, 2011 at 9:19 PM | link
@Disgusted : well good sir you may have your opinion but A: you don't know pat gray so ill fight you and B: I am def right abot a dog being tossed 9 ft in the air nd his head being fine...that ain't possible
... said mike on Aug 6, 2011 at 1:19 AM | link
I'm not defending Pat Gray in any way, but wouldn't the dog have suffered more serious injuries if he really was "dropped from 10 feet on to the cement"? Some things just don't add up. Don't believe everything you hear, kids. Just because we live in a f----- up world... doesn't mean everyone is a bad person.
... said Intrigued on Aug 6, 2011 at 8:41 AM | link
The APD wouldn't lie or exaggerate, would they?
... said mr slow loris on Aug 6, 2011 at 1:24 PM | link
People should not believe everything they read. Also, pat has been accused of this fabricated story not found guilty. I have gathered enough information relating to this story to come to the conclusion that all charges will be dropped and roscoe will be returned to his innocent wrongly accused owner, pat gray.
... said carlos on Aug 6, 2011 at 3:57 PM | link
INSIDER ALERT It was a rookie cop that did not arrest the kid while he supposedly committed the crime.... but when he went to the police station on his own accord to get his puppy back as promised by the police officer. Completely fabricated story by the officer and his badge should be taken away. The report needed to be re-written 4 times before submitted for final approval by his superior. Before anyone comments on this they should hear both sides of the story.... Now this poor kid has a bad reputation for something he 100% did not do! Anyone on here should be ashamed of themselves. Easy to jump on the bandwagon but just know it is not the truth! Complete abuse of power and neglect of constitutional rights!!! Good luck Albany PD but you are supposed to serve and protect, not accuse & fabricate for the media. What a travesty!!! The truth will come out in the end and there will be a vacancy on the next Albany PD police exam!
... said Anonymous on Aug 6, 2011 at 5:20 PM | link
this was witnessed at 7:15 in the morning? great way to start a Saturday. It sounds like he was just "playing" with his dog - maybe?...but I have to agree with Disgusted. There are a million pit bulls that are just waiting to be rescued in Albany including puppies. People mass produce them here so they can pay the rent in puppy sales. The Albany PD would not have to "make up a new crime, arrest some poor dog owner, and then take an animal to a vet on a Saturday" just to get some PR and a new Pup. Sorry - it's time for PAT to learn how to treat those that he loves with more respect and kindness.
... said Micheline Moncur on Aug 6, 2011 at 8:18 PM | link
I don't like the insults being flung here, and I've always had great interactions with the Albany PD. I have to ask, though: what DID happen? These injuries might not be consistent with playing puppy lasso, yeah. Dogs occasionally (okay, often) do stupid and reckless things that could get them hurt or killed, and if the puppy leaped out a window while on a leash or something, then the public should know that.
... said LB on Aug 7, 2011 at 9:17 AM | link
@Anonymous: That still doesn't answer the question of what DID happen, how the puppy got hurt, or why it was taken away in the first place. There is no pit bull puppy shortage in Albany.
... said LB on Aug 7, 2011 at 1:53 PM | link
@Mike: Your "BOOM"s are really convincing. You must be a lawyer.
... said Arielle on Aug 7, 2011 at 4:28 PM | link
With all the overbred pitbull puppies in this little city, it seems unlikely that a police officer would need to fabricate abuse to get one. I know we aren't paying the police a fortune, but I'm gonna bet they could afford the adoption fees at the local shelter or from one of the rescues.
... said Wendy on Aug 8, 2011 at 10:37 PM | link
That loser hit our car in our driveway in Feb and fled. He got away with it claiming a diabetic incident- Glad he won't get away with it this time.
... said maurcar231@hotmail.cim on Aug 12, 2011 at 4:14 PM | link