The NYPD said cops have arrested a 29-year-old man from University Heights on animal cruelty charges relating to an attack on a cat by a pitbull “for gain.”

 

Separately, last month, as reported by Norwood News, a widely circulated video obtained by cat rescue group, Little Wanderers NYC, showed a pitbull attacking a cat on its owner’s instruction, though the incident location of that attack was not confirmed. In the video, the man can be heard making kissing noises and seemingly encouraging the dog, saying, “Shake it, Taylor. Good Girl!”

 

In relation to the University Heights arrest, an NYPD department spokesperson said that on Wednesday, May 8, at around 5.50 a.m., the NYPD Animal Cruelty Squad arrested a man at 2515 University Avenue in relation to an ongoing animal cruelty investigation. However, it’s currently unclear if the latest arrest relates to the incident circulated on video by NYC Little Wanderers. We have contacted the group for comment.

 

Meanwhile, police said that further investigation determined that on Friday, April 5, the man [arrested] gave numerous commands to his dog to attack a cat while opposite 2338 Aqueduct Avenue also in University Heights. In addition, they said that on Wednesday, April 17, the individual also injured a pitbull while in front of 2525 University Avenue.

 

The video of a pitbull attacking a cat circulated by Little Wanderers NYC was shared on April 19 and the group said it had been shared with them by a source who they did not wish to name for security reasons. The group went on to say that they believe organized dog-fighting was taking place at both NYCHA and at other locations around The Bronx, and was an ongoing crisis for many years.

 

They also told Norwood News they had been in touch with District 12 Councilman Kevin Riley, who represents East Gun Hill Houses NYCHA complex in Williamsbridge, among other neighborhoods, to arrange a meeting on the matter.

 

Meanwhile, police said Terrence Wallace, 29, of 2515 University Avenue in The Bronx was arrested on May 8 and charged with causing an animal to fight for gain, aggravated cruelty to animals, and two counts of torture/injury to an animal. The NYPD further confirmed that Wallace had also been charged on Dec. 18, 2023, with 3rd degree robbery in relation to a robbery which unfolded on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at around 00.10 a.m.

Of the latter incident, they said a 61-year-old man bumped into an unidentified person inside a business located at 85 West Fordham Road which led to a dispute. They said the person then used his dog to threaten the victim and steal his credit card. They said [the man’s] dog jumped on the victim but did not cause any injuries, and added that the victim refused medical attention at the scene.

 

Norwood News has asked the NYPD to confirm if the video circulated by NYC Little Wanderers was recorded at 2338 Aqueduct Avenue or if the referenced incident at 2338 Aqueduct Avenue was a separate incident. We’ve also asked for corroboration of reports on the current status of the impacted dog and on some other reported crimes allegedly carried out by Wallace. We will share any updates we receive.

 

Meanwhile, Little Wanderers NYC, appeared delighted to hear the news that a man had been arrested saying on May 12, that it was a huge step for justice. “An arrest was made of dog owner of Chyna, the pitbull who was encouraged and trained to fight and kill cats. Both she and her owner are in custody,” they said. The fact that the group references a dog called “Chyna” but in the video they circulated in April, the man is heard addressing the dog as “Taylor,” suggests perhaps these are two diiferent incidents.

 

Little Wanderers continued, “Just one month ago, Little Wanderers posted a gut-wrenching video of a cat being mauled and killed by Chyna, a dog from a Bronx NYCHA housing project. For years, there have been reports of animal abuse and torture at this project and rescuers we work with have lost cats that were suspected victims of dog deaths. They tried to report it with red tape runaround. Nothing went anywhere FAST.”

 

The group said that when they posted the video, there were “rumors” that an investigation was going on, but the NYPD could not find the perpetrator. As reported by Norwood News, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office formally confirmed an investigation into allegations of dog-fighting and animal cruelty was ongoing. Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark also issued a statement in response to the circulation of recent video involving an attack on a cat by a pitbull, as reported, though she did not link to the video and therefore, it’s unknown if she was referring to the video circulated by Little Wanderers NYC or another video. We asked the DA’s office for confirmation and will share any updates we receive.

 

The DA’s statement, released on April 30, read, “The Bronx district attorney’s office has dedicated assistant district attorneys and detective investigators committed to investigating and prosecuting crimes committed against animals, including cruelty, neglect, hoarding and the fighting of dogs and other animals.”

It continued, “We are working with the NYPD’s Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad to determine where the viral video of the pit bull attacking the cat was taken and who created it, in order to determine whether criminal charges are warranted. Anyone with information that could help, or anyone who recorded the incident in the video, is asked to call our Civilian Complaint Unit at (718) 590-2300 or email: BXDADICCU@bronxda.nyc.gov.”

 

After news of the arrest of Wallace, Little Wanderers NYC went on to say, “Not five minutes after we posted the video, someone posted the perpetrators exact address, date of birth and a copy of his license on our social media. Call it “street justice” but it was no secret the cat was out of the proverbial bag. The power of organizing cannot be underestimated. Our grassroots reach was amazing and working with local law enforcement, an arrest was possible.”

 

The group referenced the ongoing dog-fighting investigation and appealed to the public to join their crusade, “End Animal Cruelty Bandanas,” tagging various elected officials and other entities and saying, “There are so many things you can do. Visit our links! We helped to set a precedent – animal cruelty and torture will not be tolerated. Working together made all the difference! Thank you on behalf of every cat that has no voice – YOU ARE THEIR VOICE!”

 

 

Meanwhile, on May 2, the DA’s office provided a separate update on the status of an abused dog called Finn, writing, “Finn, a dog who was abused by his owner has been placed into a loving home!” The update continued, “Thanks to the hard work of our team at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and the ASPCA, Finn, (formally known as Kash) was rescued from an owner who was caught on video hitting the 18-month-old with a leash, as well as picking him up by his collar and tossing him down a hallway. His former owner was forced to surrender the pit bull and is banned from having any animals for at least five years.”

 

 

In May 2023, as reported, the Bronx district attorney’s office charged a Bronx man with killing a dog after he allegedly slammed the head of Ken-Shin, a 9 ½-pound Pomeranian, onto a wooden coffee table, killing the dog instantly.

The same month, as reported, New York City officials broke ground on a new $92 million animal shelter / care center in the Baychester section of the borough.

 

In May 2022, as reported, 23 alleged River Park Towers gang members were charged with an animal cruelty misdemeanor, among other charges in the Morris Heights section. The DA’s office said they were livestreaming a pigeon that flew into the area and likened the bird to a Crip [rival gang member] who wandered into their neighborhood. One defendant allegedly said, “If we get a hundred views, we’ll kill it.” According to the Bronx DA’s office, they reached that number and beat the pigeon to death with a cane on Facebook live.

 

Earlier this year, in mid-March, Norwood News reported that a dog became impaled on a railing after it apparently jumped off the roof of a residential building in Kingsbridge. We understand the dog died and though we followed up, we didn’t ever receive definitive confirmation. We’re following up with Animal Care Centers of NYC and will share any updates we receive. Also in March, as reported, five cats died and two people were injured in a fire in Kingsbridge. More recently, as also reported, an abandoned pitbull was taken into care after local residents came to its aid.

 

Meanwhile, as reported, Little Wanderers NYC are encouraging all Bronxites who care about animal cruelty to call their city council representatives and let them know that Bronx animal rescuers need help.

 

“Government officials can no longer turn a blind eye to the violence and suffering right under their noses,” the group said. “We’ve had enough. This is a call to action!” The group are calling on animal lovers and Bronx residents to demand the following:

1. Increase resources for Bronx rescue groups that include spay/neuter services and offer subsidies to vets who partner with rescue groups.
2. Encourage the police to take animal abuse seriously and stop giving animal rescue groups the run around.
3. Demand that the Bronx DA leverages maximum penalties on dogfighting.

 

The cat rescue group also shared the contact details for the following Bronx city council members and said, “Call them! Email them!”

Eric Dinowitz
718-549-7300
Dinowitz@council.nyc.gov

Diana Ayala
212-828-9800
Dayala@council.nyc.gov

Kevin Riley
District12@council.nyc.gov
718-684-5509

Pierina Sanchez
District14@council.nyc.gov
347-590-2874

Oswald Feliz
District15@council.nyc.gov
718-842-8100

Althea Stevens
District16@council.nyc.gov
718-588-7500

Separately, Bedford Park resident, Elizabeth Quaranta, recently shared details from Bideawee’s Feral Cat Initiative on social media on how to help decrease the number of kittens being born in “the wild” and improve the lives of feral and stray cats in the area. Residents can register for an online Trap-Neuter-Return (#TNR) certification workshop from the Community Cats Podcast / Neighborhood Cats, coming up on Saturday, May 4. The online workshop will also be offered on June 1 and July 14 the post read. Register here.

 

“Looking for more community members who can help out with this program, especially since we have so many cats and not one person can do this,” Quaranta wrote. Norwood resident, Betty Arce, chair of Bronx Community Board 7’s sanitation committee, who also volunteers to help feral cats, added, “That would be great for more people to step up and be the help they need. I’m always available to provide support.”

 

Learn more about Little Wanderers here. Sign their peition here. Donate to their gofundme page here.

 

Wallace is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

As above, the Bronx District Attorney’s office said that anyone with information that could help with the dog-fighting investigation, or anyone who recorded the incident in the video, is asked to call the Civilian Complaint Unit at (718) 590-2300 or email: BXDADICCU@bronxda.nyc.gov.”