PERTH AMBOY -- A city man has been charged with six counts of animal cruelty for allegedly sodomizing a female Rottweiler belonging to his neighbor.
The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Monday charged Jose Rodriguez, 39, of State Street, with the animal cruelty charges. The dog was examined by a veterinarian before the charges were filed.
And the president of the state SPCA said this was not the first time the animal had been attacked by the man.
"This was going on for over a year," said Stuart Rhodes, state SPCA president. "Neighbors had witnessed it and called police. He was literally caught with his pants down."
The owner of the dog had sought an order of protection barring him from entering her property and he violated it, Rhodes said.
"There are no bestiality laws in New Jersey," said Rhodes, adding if those laws had been in place, Rodriguez might have been arrested.
Rodriguez is accused of sodomizing the 5-year-old dog on Dec. 19 in a State Street backyard. On Dec. 22, the Perth Amboy animal control officer notified the state SPCA and an investigation was initiated. Perth Amboy police were also notified. The dog belongs to Rodriguez's neighbor, officials said.
Rodriguez was charged with abusing a living animal, causing the act to be done, inflicting unnecessary cruelty on a living animal and torture and torment of a living animal. The charges were filed in Perth Amboy Municipal Court. A tentative hearing date is set for Jan. 13. Civil and criminal charges could result in fines of $6,000, six months in jail and 30 days of community service.
Rodriguez has an unpublished phone number and efforts to reach him yesterday were unsuccessful.
"This is obviously an uncomfortable case for any law enforcement agency or any rational human being to deal with," Rhodes said. "As a result of our investigation, we found that despite efforts by the owner to resolve the issue, the abuse of this animal had been an ongoing problem. It is my hope that through efforts of the NJSPCA, this animal will never be subjected to this horrific abuse ever again."
The dog, named Precious, was taken to Banfield, The Pet Hospital, in Woodbridge where it was examined by Dr. Phillip DeBaecke. The dog had bleeding, swelling, severe pain and trouble walking as a result of the abuse, SPCA officials said.
DeBaecke yesterday said the dog did not require medical treatment and was released to the owner.
Two children were living with Rodriguez at the time of the incident. The case has been referred to the state Division of Youth and Family services, Rhodes said.
The SPCA is a privately run organization vested with legal power to investigate and bring complaints in animal cruelty cases.
The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Monday charged Jose Rodriguez, 39, of State Street, with the animal cruelty charges. The dog was examined by a veterinarian before the charges were filed.
And the president of the state SPCA said this was not the first time the animal had been attacked by the man.
"This was going on for over a year," said Stuart Rhodes, state SPCA president. "Neighbors had witnessed it and called police. He was literally caught with his pants down."
The owner of the dog had sought an order of protection barring him from entering her property and he violated it, Rhodes said.
"There are no bestiality laws in New Jersey," said Rhodes, adding if those laws had been in place, Rodriguez might have been arrested.
Rodriguez is accused of sodomizing the 5-year-old dog on Dec. 19 in a State Street backyard. On Dec. 22, the Perth Amboy animal control officer notified the state SPCA and an investigation was initiated. Perth Amboy police were also notified. The dog belongs to Rodriguez's neighbor, officials said.
Rodriguez was charged with abusing a living animal, causing the act to be done, inflicting unnecessary cruelty on a living animal and torture and torment of a living animal. The charges were filed in Perth Amboy Municipal Court. A tentative hearing date is set for Jan. 13. Civil and criminal charges could result in fines of $6,000, six months in jail and 30 days of community service.
Rodriguez has an unpublished phone number and efforts to reach him yesterday were unsuccessful.
"This is obviously an uncomfortable case for any law enforcement agency or any rational human being to deal with," Rhodes said. "As a result of our investigation, we found that despite efforts by the owner to resolve the issue, the abuse of this animal had been an ongoing problem. It is my hope that through efforts of the NJSPCA, this animal will never be subjected to this horrific abuse ever again."
The dog, named Precious, was taken to Banfield, The Pet Hospital, in Woodbridge where it was examined by Dr. Phillip DeBaecke. The dog had bleeding, swelling, severe pain and trouble walking as a result of the abuse, SPCA officials said.
DeBaecke yesterday said the dog did not require medical treatment and was released to the owner.
Two children were living with Rodriguez at the time of the incident. The case has been referred to the state Division of Youth and Family services, Rhodes said.
The SPCA is a privately run organization vested with legal power to investigate and bring complaints in animal cruelty cases.
