West Babylon Man 'Tortured' Pit Bull Puppy: SPCA

WEST BABYLON, NY — A West Babylon man was arrested Wednesday after throwing his 3-month-old puppy across the yard and pinning the dog to the ground by the throat, according to the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Officers responded to a complaint that 37-year-old Nicholas Serrano was seen picking up his pit bull puppy, Diamond, to shoulder height and throwing the dog across the yard, causing him to land on his shoulder and head, the SPCA said. Diamond then whimpered loudly and laid on the ground for several minutes before getting up and walking with a limp, the SPCA said.

Serrano was then seen walking away and without checking on the puppy’s condition or seeing if it needed medical attention, the SPCA said. He was also seen on another occasion forcefully pinning Diamond to the ground with his hand over the puppy’s throat, the SPCA said.

Serrano with charged with two counts of animal cruelty and accused of violating New York's Agriculture and Markets Law for torturing and injuring the puppy. The charges are misdemeanors. He is scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip on August 25. Diamond was transported to the Babylon Animal Shelter.