After an extensive investigation, Detectives from the Suffolk County SPCA arrested a Port Jefferson Station man. On July 1, 2024 the Suffolk County SPCA received a complaint from a Veterinarian in Brookhaven Town regarding a case of extreme neglect.
The complaint reported a fifteen-year-old female Pit Bull Terrier "Coca" was brought in extremely emaciated, unable to rise or walk. There were significant ulcerated wounds all over body, notably in her stomach and groin area. There was foul odor from her open ulcerations that covered her stomach and groin area. The paws were red with irritation, overgrown nails that’s curled into the paws creating painful, open oozing wounds. Fur was missing from a significant portion of Coca.
Coca was humanely euthanized by the hospital due to the extreme pain as a result of her condition. The reporting veterinarian stated it was one of the worst neglect cases she had ever examined.
On July 6, 2024 at approximately 10:00 A.M. SPCA Detectives responded to the owner’s residence in Port Jefferson Station with the assistance of the Suffolk County Police Department’s 7th Precinct uniform patrol. Coca was exhumed by Detectives and forensic necropsy preformed by Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center Pathologists in Ithaca, NY.
On September 13, 2024 SPCA Detectives arrested Juan Vargas, 66, of Port Jefferson Station. He was charged with misdemeanor Animal Cruelty.
Vargas is scheduled to appear in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip on October 3, 2024 at 9:00 A.M.
Animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Suffolk 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.