Wanting to get rid of his "vicious" dog, Derick Phanord led the pit bull mix up a wooded path about a block from his home, a plastic jug of gas in hand.
After tying Spike to a tree, "I poured the gasoline ... on to the dog. Then I said a prayer for the dog, made the sign of the crucifix," Phanord said, according to a written statement he made to police.
"I took the cigarette I was smoking and lit the gas that puddled on the ground. The gas caught on fire and the dog also caught on fire. I turned my back and walked away."
In his confession, Phanord, 22, of Brentwood, said he got Spike about a month ago and that the dog threatened his pregnant sister and repeatedly tried to bite him.
Phanord was arrested late Monday after the Suffolk Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals received a tip that was passed on to Suffolk police. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday in First District Court in Central Islip to aggravated cruelty to an animal and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Phanord, who was held on $50,000 cash bail or bond, faces up to two years in prison on the felony cruelty charge.
"I do know he has a strong family," said his Smithtown attorney, Paul Barahal. "Obviously, they are very concerned about him."
In his confession, Phanord said his family demanded he get rid of Spike.
On the day of the burning, Phanord describes how Spike -- later named Maximus by a vet who tried to save his life -- "locked up" on the head of his pit bull puppy Red, tearing the dog's eyelid. Phanord said he threw bleach and detergent on Spike and banged on the ground with a shovel in an attempt to make him let go of Red, according to his statement.
Later that day, Phanord torched Spike and left him to die, police said.
The 2-year-old dog was discovered, still tied to the tree, on July 12 by a child who called 911. The dog suffered burns over 60 percent of his body and underwent several surgeries before dying on July 17.
Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross said that in addition to burns, the dog had a broken palate. Officials are unsure how much time passed before the dog was found, but it could have been as long as two days. "I've been doing this since 1984," Gross said. "This is one that will stick in my mind forever."
SPCA officials took Red from Phanord's home Tuesday, citing the dog's untreated eye injury, and plan to put the puppy up for adoption.
Staff writer Christine Armario contributed to this story.
Horrified by the death of a dog doused with gasoline and set on fire, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy Tuesday announced the assignment of a detective in each precinct squad to oversee animal cruelty cases.
"From my perspective, it's not enough just to have punishment in this case," Levy said in describing the untraditional move.
Derick Phanord, 22, of Brentwood, was arrested Monday on charges of torturing his pit bull mix Spike after the dog was unfriendly toward his family and attacked his puppy, police said.
The detective will work as a "point person" with Suffolk Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals peace officers as part of a three-point plan that also includes a permanent reward fund for information on animal neglect and lobbying for stiffer criminal sentences.
"That is an innovative program," said Dale Bartlett, deputy manager of animal cruelty issues for the Humane Society of the United States in Washington, D.C. "In most jurisdictions it's hard to get the police involved and most are handled through the animal control bureau."
Across the nation, it is common to have animal control agencies staffed with peace officers, Bartlett said. These officers have the authority to execute search warrants, conduct investigations and issue summonses to make arrests -- but lack certain powers, such as the ability to execute arrest warrants, Chief Roy Gross of the Suffolk SPCA said.
However, as the issue of animal abuse and neglect gains heightened awareness, some law enforcement offices are stepping up their involvement.
In Chicago, the city police department has begun an animal cruelty unit with a sergeant and six officers. In upstate Rensselaer County, the district attorney has created an animal abuse task force.
"People are realizing animal cruelty is an issue that affects not only animals," said Joseph Pentangelo, assistant director of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York City.
Suffolk Police Commissioner Richard Dormer, who collaborated with Levy on the initiative, said the detective will investigate animal cruelty cases in addition to their regular police responsibilities.
Though the Suffolk SPCA is contracted to investigate such crimes, Gross said he did not believe the new system would be overstepping his organization.
Levy said he also would lobby Albany to increase the penalty for felony animal cruelty charges, from the current maximum of two years to five.
Assemb. Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale) has also introduced legislation to stiffen the penalties. Her bill, which did not pass, would have made it a felony if one is caught torturing an animal a second time within five years of a first conviction.
"The resistance has been that we can't make animal crimes as severe as crimes against human beings," she said. "There's a resistance. It doesn't mean that we won't be successful."
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
The Suffolk County SPCA is a local, independent not-for-profit organization that has been servicing the humane needs, requirements, and enforcement of cruelty laws for Suffolk County, New York animals for over 20 years - NY State Law provides that there is to be but one SPCA per county in the State - the Suffolk County SPCA is in no way affiliated with, a subdivision of or funded by any other local, state or national organization.
After tying Spike to a tree, "I poured the gasoline ... on to the dog. Then I said a prayer for the dog, made the sign of the crucifix," Phanord said, according to a written statement he made to police.
