New York: Joselina Brucelis, 33, convicted of animal cruelty

NEW YORK -- A jury found on Monday that a Middletown woman left a pit bull terrier tied up in her basement with little food, no water and a too-tight collar, officials said.

Joselina Brucelis, 33, was convicted in Middletown City Court of animal cruelty, a misdemeanor; and failure to license a dog, a city code violation.

She faces up to a year in Orange County Jail when she's sentenced on April 13, and she'll be added to the Orange County Animal Abuser Registry.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office said Brucelis brought the 2-year-old male pit bull, Shadow, into her house in September 2014. Brucelis left the dog tied to a pole in the basement, wearing a collar that was so tight that it embedded in the dog's neck. The collar cut into the dog's skin, and caused severe swelling to the dog's head, neck and face.

Prosecutors said Brucelis left the dog with no water, and provided it with only corn flakes to eat.

In October 2014, a roommate called Middletown Animal Control to report the abuse. Middletown police investigated, leading to the arrest.

District Attorney David Hoovler said his office takes animal abuse cases seriously.

"When we share our lives with animals, we owe those animals a special duty of care," said Hoovler. "We take on the responsibility to feed them, water them, and ensure that they get adequate veterinary care."

(Times Herald-Record - ‎Feb 29, 2016)