MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arrest of a New Hyde Park man for allegedly neglecting his pet Tibetan Mastiff to the point where it had wounds covered in thousands of live maggots.
Dong Wang, 47, was arraigned yesterday before Judge Elizabeth Fox-McDonough and charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (an E felony), Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance to an Animal (an A misdemeanor) and Possession and Transportation of Wildlife (a violation). The defendant was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court September 19.
“Every pet deserves a loving and caring home, but this defendant allegedly neglected this innocent dog to such a degree that he was dangerously underweight and infested with insects,” DA Singas said. “Despite this horrific abuse, skilled veterinarians nursed him back to health, and he is expected to make a full recovery. I am grateful to the outstanding work of our Animal Crimes team, and committed to holding this defendant accountable for this heartless crime.”
DA Singas said on July 20, the defendant went to the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter to surrender an 18-month-old male Tibetan Mastiff that he claimed on surrender paperwork was a stray. At the time of the surrender, staff members at the shelter noticed the dog was filthy, matted, smelling of urine and feces, and crawling with maggots.
A physical examination revealed the dog, named Hēi Hŭ or ‘Black Tiger’, was in severe physical distress, unable to walk or stand, had a high fever and labored breathing. The dog was also 30 to 40 pounds underweight, covered with ulcers on its skin, and infested with thousands of active maggots.
An investigation found that the defendant allegedly lied on the surrender paperwork and he was the dog’s owner. Additionally, on the evening of July 20, the Nassau County SPCA and Nassau County Police Department made an emergency visit to the defendant’s home and found three additional animals, including another Tibetan Mastiff and two poodle puppies, in poor living conditions.
The NCDA thanks the Nassau County SPCA and the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter for their assistance on this case.
Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Hernan of DA Singas’ Animal Crimes Unit is handling this case. The defendant is represented by the Legal Aid Society.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
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