A Bellport man has been indicted after he allegedly caused fatal injuries to his 13-year-old dog, resulting in the animal’s death.
In November 2022, David Iglesias’ dog, “Niva,” was allegedly attacked by his other dog, leaving Niva severely injured. Iglesias allegedly brought Niva down to his basement, cut her injured ears off, and then used glue in an attempt to close the wounds. Iglesias did not bring Niva to a veterinarian until December 2, 2022. The veterinarian evaluated Niva and found her to be in septic shock and near death. Niva needed to be euthanized due to the severity of her injuries.
A post-mortem examination of Niva was done in which it was determined that prior to her death, Niva sustained extensive injuries including repetitive puncture wounds, especially on her limbs, a mostly missing right ear, and a large wound where her left ear once was.
On July 12, 2024, Iglesias was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Judge Steven A. Pilewski for the following charges:
- aggravated cruelty to animals, an unclassified felony
- overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals, a Class A misdemeanor
- clipping/cutting ears of dogs, an unclassified misdemeanor
All three charges that Iglesias faces are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning that prosecutors could not ask for bail, nor could a judge set bail at the time of arraignment. Therefore, Pilewski released Iglesias on his own recognizance, but ordered that he not own or possess any animals during the pendency of the case. Iglesias is due back in court on August 1, 2024.
“Animal cruelty is not merely a minor offense, it is a serious crime,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “By addressing and prosecuting these crimes with the severity they deserve, we are taking a critical step in promoting a safer and more humane society. My office works closely with local law enforcement, animal control officers, and animal welfare organizations to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.”