Brooklyn Man Charged with Animal Cruelty
A man from Brooklyn has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly wrapping his dog in duct tape. This information was shared in a press release from the Queens District Attorney’s office on Tuesday.
Christopher Fife, 38, is accused of taping the muzzle, eyes, and legs of a pit bull. He is also facing charges related to keeping the dog and four others in unsanitary conditions in a van. Apart from animal cruelty, Fife faces additional charges, including two counts of threats, harassment, and failing to provide necessary food and water for the animals.
The incident reportedly occurred on August 23rd, when two witnesses confronted Fife. Allegedly, he threatened them with a knife and urged them to call the police. One witness recorded the event and posted the video on social media.
A woman who saw the video recognized Fife and reached out to the police, noting that he was driving a vehicle with out-of-state license plates that contained multiple dogs. The police arrested Fife on August 24th.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the license plate did not match the vehicle registration. Authorities also found five kennels filled with urine and feces, along with a bowl of water that was contaminated.
Although Fife was arrested, he was granted supervised release since his case doesn’t qualify for bail under New York state law. He is expected back in court on November 13th.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz remarked on the situation, emphasizing that the alleged actions showed a complete disregard for the defenseless animal. She expressed gratitude towards those who reported the abuse.
“As noted in the complaint, the defendant caused significant harm to the vulnerable dog by wrapping its nose, eyes, and legs with duct tape,” Katz said in the release. “When police addressed the situation, they discovered five dogs in filthy kennels behind an unregistered van. Such treatment of animals is unacceptable.”
Howard Lawrence, from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), commended both the DA’s office and the NYPD for their swift actions in this case. If found guilty, Fife could face up to two years in prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
