Detectives from the Suffolk County SPCA charged a Brentwood woman with animal cruelty charges.
Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk SPCA, said that its detectives charged Jerilyn Cruz, 38, on misdemeanor animal cruelty alleging that she abandoned her male one year old dog Toby, an Australian Shepherd, in a Bohemia hotel near Long Island MacArthur Airport on March 30th 2025. Detectives from the Suffolk County SPCA interviewed hotel employees who discovered the dog after being left behind without food or water for over 24 hours. The dog was provided food, water, shelter and was unharmed.
On Friday April 11th 2025, Cruz surrendered to SPCA Detectives at the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct where she was booked and charged by Suffolk County SPCA Detectives. Cruz was charged with Abandonment, Animal Cruelty, and Making a False Written Statement. Cruz is due in First District Court, Central Islip on May 1st at 9:00AM.
The Suffolk County SPCA remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all animals in the county. If you witness any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in Suffolk County, please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-7722.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.