Sad Story

August 4, 2009

Dog Hurled From Roof of Brooklyn Housing Project

On July 31, Brooklyn resident Fabian Henderson, 19, was arrested by ASPCA Special Agent Peter Rivas for hurling his one-year-old Terrier mix from the roof of his Brooklyn housing project—the Red Hook Houses.

The cold-blooded act occurred on June 18. “The ASPCA initially received a complaint that an animal was being beaten on the third floor of 28 W. Ninth St., where Henderson lives with his family,” Joseph Pentangelo, Assistant Director of ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) says. “A few minutes later, HLE received two more calls from people reporting a dog had been thrown off the roof.”

Upon their arrival, ASPCA officers found Oreo on the ground six floors below, badly broken, but alive. “We couldn’t believe the dog survived the six-story fall,” says Special Agent Rivas. “We immediately took her to the nearest animal clinic, where she received emergency care.” As soon as she was stabilized, Oreo was transferred to the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital where veterinarians treated her shattered legs, bruised lungs and severe internal bleeding. Surgery was also performed to reconstruct her front legs, using plates and screws.

“She's showing a lot of resilience. She's eating on her own, she's standing and she’s walking,” confirms Pentangelo. “But it is a long road ahead.”

Henderson pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated cruelty to animals—a felony punishable by up to two years in prison—reckless endangerment and criminal trespass. He is being held on $50,000 bail. The case is scheduled for the grand jury in Brooklyn, date to be determined.