Corning man, Erik Miller, charged with animal cruelty, drugs

Click to read update to original story: Eric Miller pleads guilty to vicious attack on girlfriend's dog. Did girlfriend take her dog and split? Nope. She married the abuser!

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NEW YORK -- A Corning man faces up to two years behind bars if convicted of an animal abuse charge, Elmira City Animal Control said Tuesday.

The Elmira Heights Police Department and animal control said Erik G. Miller, 28, of East Fifth Street in Corning has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony, and an unrelated drug charge.

Miller allegedly abused a pug mix dog in an incident Nov. 12 at 232 Lynwood Ave. in Elmira Heights, police said. The dog was treated for injuries at Lake Road Animal Hospital and then taken to Cornell for further treatment, police said.

"Miller allegedly caused serious injuries to the pug dog," said Craig Spencer, Elmira's animal control director.

As a result of Miller's repeated kicks, the King Charles cavalier pug mixed breed dog suffered blunt-force trauma, including multiple rib fractures, severe pulmonary contusions and subcutaneous emphysema.

The dog was subsequently brought to the Elmira Animal Shelter, Spencer said.

Miller was arrested on Friday by village police on a warrant through Family Court on an unrelated charge, police said. He was found to be in possession of pills believed to be methadone and was sent to the Chemung County Jail, police said.

Miller was arraigned Monday in Elmira Heights Village Court on charges of aggravated animal cruelty and criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said. He was released on $500 bail and is to reappear in court at a later date, police said.

The penalty, if convicted of the felony abuse charge, is up to two years in the jail, Spencer said.
Spencer praised the Elmira Heights police department.

"They were a great help," he said.

(Star Gazette - December 9, 2014)