Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Munim Raghid, 26, of Ronkonkoma, was arrested on January 2, 2025, by members of the District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) and charged with one count of animal cruelty and four counts of criminal contempt in the second degree. The defendant had been previously charged with animal cruelty, in December 2024, for neglecting a Kangal Shepherd to the point of its alleged emaciation. In connection with that case, which is still pending in Suffolk County District Court, the Honorable Judge Evan Zuckerman had ordered that the defendant not be allowed to possess any animals during the course of the prosecution. Nonetheless, BEAST investigators allegedly found him to be in possession of three additional Kangal Shepherds, including two puppies, which were immediately seized pursuant to a search warrant. Tragically, one of the puppies was severely injured at the time of his discovery.
“I created my BEAST investigative team for a reason,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will pursue every act of animal cruelty reported to us and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”
The current investigation started when a Good Samaritan observed an injured puppy lying in a roadway on New Years Eve. The puppy appeared to have been recently struck by a car and could not use its legs. The Samaritan wrapped the puppy in a blanket and raced it to Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists, an emergency hospital. The puppy was evaluated and found to have severe injuries to its back legs. Meanwhile, the Good Samaritan returned to the area where the puppy was found and started knocking on doors to identify the owner. The house immediately adjacent to where the puppy was found was the defendant’s. When he was notified that his puppy was hit by a car and brought to the veterinary center, he allegedly went to retrieve it. At this point in time, the defendant, due to another pending prosecution, was under a Court Order not to possess or have custody or control over any animals.
The defendant allegedly went to Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists, where he was advised by medical staff that the animal had severe injuries and should not leave. Nonetheless, the defendant allegedly removed the puppy against medical advice that evening, just before midnight.
Upon learning of this event, BEAST investigators responded to the defendant’s home on New Years Day. When they were not allowed access, they returned with a search warrant. During the course of their search, three animals, including the injured puppy, were allegedly recovered. The injured puppy, per the allegations, was not provided with any veterinary care for what was later determined to be a fractured pelvis and leg fractures. These injuries will require the puppy to undergo extensive surgery.
On the new case, the defendant has been charged with one count of animal cruelty, as a class A misdemeanor, for allegedly permitting the puppy to suffer without adequate veterinary care, and four counts of criminal contempt in the second degree, as a class A misdemeanor, for violation of Judge Zuckerman’s court order. He is scheduled to be arraigned on these charges on January 3,
2025.
The defendant surrendered both puppies to law enforcement at the time of seizure. They are both available for adoption through the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter. However, the one puppy must first undergo significant rehabilitative surgery for its injuries.
Through the District Attorney’s previously announced working agreement with Fund for Animal Cruelty Treatment of Suffolk, Inc. (FACTS), FACTS has pledged to contribute to the veterinary care of the injured puppy. To find out more about how FACTS helps victims of animal cruelty, and how the public can help this puppy, please visit https://factssaves.org/.
Both cases against the defendant are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kelsey Ferris of the District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Joanna Westrack and Elizabeth Tomlin of the Suffolk County Police Department’s District Attorney Squad.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.