Suffolk County SPCA Press Release

SUFFOLK COUNTY

SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

PRESS RELEASE

December 31, 2007

 

Suffolk County SPCA                                                                     CONTACT:  CHIEF ROY GROSS

Your Local SPCA Serving Suffolk County                                                        631-382-SPCA (7722)   

363 Route 111                                                                                                                             

Smithtown, NY 11787 

 
Brentwood Man Sentenced For setting Dog on Fire
 

           Derrick Phanord, a Brentwood man who confessed to tying his pit bull to a tree and setting fire to it last summer, was sentenced today in

SuffolkCounty Criminal Court.  Phanord received the maximum 2 year sentence on the Felony cruelty charge and 90 days on the misdemeanor cruelty charges to run concurrently with the felony. Judge Randall Hinrichs called the dog's killing a heinous and horrific act and that he was sentencing Phanord to the maximum allowable by law. The dog, a male pit bull named Spike, was found on Thursday July 12, 2007 with second and third degree burns over 60% of his body; severe third degree burns of his face and ears; degloving wounds of his upper palate including the loss of canine and incisor teeth. 

           Emergency Veterinarians had named the dog "Maximus," according to Chief Roy Gross of the Suffolk County SPCA.  "Even after what he had been through, Maximus still tried to wag his tail when he saw people enter his isolation area," said Chief Gross.  Maximus hadn't lost his bond with humans.  Emergency care personnel said that Maximus was trying to eat on his own and wanted to play with other dogs when he saw them.  Maximus died a short time later after numerous infections set in from the burns.

            The Suffolk County SPCA offered a reward for information leading the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for killing the dog.  Numerous donations were received from emotional individuals as well as nationally known  humane organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).  Eventually the reward fund grew to $20,000.00 and two tips came into the SPCA with information leading to the arrest of Phanord, according to Chief Gross.

The Suffolk County SPCA continues its appeal to the public for financial help, and support so that we may provide the necessary medical care for rescued and abused animals.  We are a private, nonprofit, charitable organization and the voice for animals in Suffolk County.  We do not receive taxpayer or public funding and we must rely on the support and generosity of donors to exist.

           

            Please help us to provide a better life for discarded pets and other animals in Suffolk County.  Donations can be mailed to: Suffolk County SPCA, 363 Rt. 111, Smithtown, NY 11787 or by logging on to our website

 

www.suffolkcountyspca.org

 

The Suffolk County SPCA is not affiliated with, a subdivision of, or funded by any other local, state or national humane organization.