A 54-year-old city man allegedly struck a pit bull with an object possibly a machete leaving the dog with laceration across the forehead, said police director Jerry Speziale, injuries that ultimately forced veterinarians to humanely euthanize the badly abused dog.
Erbin Green has been charged with six counts of animal cruelty, said the director.
The owner brought the dog to the Paterson Animal Control Shelter with serious lacerations across the forehead at about 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 8th, 2015.
Animal control officer Adina Baican saw the serious state the gravely injured dog was in and contacted the Oradell Animal Hospital for emergency medical services for the pit bull.
The owner rushed the dog to the hospital, but the severity of the injuries resulted in the dog being humanely euthanized. A subsequent investigation conducted on Monday, August 10th, 2015, determined the cause of the injuries.
Chief animal control officer John DeCando reviewed the investigation and reported the matter to the police detective bureau. Interviews were arranged with the owner and the family members.
It was determined the pit bull was subjected to acts of animal cruelty, said Speziale. Complaints have been filed against Green and a hearing date is set for September 11th, 2015, at the city’s municipal court.
“Animals are innocent creatures and will be protected and not abused in our City,” said Speziale “We take this extremely seriously and will not tolerate innocent animals being abused.”