Credit: NYPD
Dog-Rescue-in-Queens
Queens, NY (AP/77WABC) — Authorities say a Queens man has been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty and other crimes after police found 27 pit bulls in “dungeonlike” conditions at his home.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz says 59-year-old Andrew Cato was arraigned Tuesday on charges including illegal dog fighting and failure to provide proper food and water to the animals.
“Pets and animals are meant to be protected and nurtured,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “In Queens, I will hold accountable those who choose to abuse them instead. This defendant, who allegedly told the police he was a breeder, kept 27 pit-bulls in filthy and dungeonlike enclosures with little food, clean water, light, or ventilation.”
Prosecutors say Cato allegedly bred dogs for fighting, as evidenced by numerous dog bite scars and wounds on some of the 27 dogs and the retrieval of dog fighting paraphernalia.
Katz says police found the dogs after responding to neighbors’ complaints about barking dogs on July 28.
Cato, of Richmond Hill, Queens, was arraigned yesterday before Queens Criminal Court Judge Denise Johnson on a complaint charging him with three counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, 35 counts of prohibition of animal fighting, 27 counts of failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded animal and 27 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide sustenance.
Judge Johnson ordered the defendant to return to court on September 8, 2021. If convicted, the defendant faces up to four years in prison. A message seeking comment was left with Cato’s attorney.
