A Yonkers woman was hit with animal cruelty charges after allegedly leaving her 1-year-old pet pooch, Frankie, tied up at a local cemetery with a slit throat, Westchester County prosecutors said.
Anita Martin, 60, was arraigned on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and overdriving, torturing and injuring animals this week after prosecutors said she left Frankie tied up at St. John’s Cemetery in Yonkers on Nov. 21 — with an 8-inch-long gash to the pup’s throat.
“Like many in Westchester, I was deeply disturbed to see the photos of Frankie on the news in his mangled condition,” county District Attorney Susan Cacace said in a statement. “Our pets are completely dependent upon us for their well-being, and in this case, poor Frankie was failed many times over.
“The only silver lining here is that Frankie can now begin his healing journey and will undoubtedly spend the rest of his life in loving arms, much unlike his life as a puppy,” Cacace said.
The poor pooch, a mastiff mix, was spotted by a good Samaritan, who called the Yonkers cops, who got Frankie to a vet and into the hands of the SPCA Westchester, where he recovered.
“His tail never stops wagging,” the animal rescue group said on Facebook. “Frankie is a true testament to resilience, strength and unwavering positivity. After being cruelly dumped in Yonkers with a severe cut to his throat, Frankie endured unimaginable pain.
“Yet, through it all he never lost his joyful spirit and faith in people,” the SPCA said. “If you’re looking for a super outgoing, loving and playful pup, please stop in to meet Frankie.”
The injured dog was left without food and water, and the deep gash to the throat had gotten infected.
Yonkers police and the SPCA released surveillance video of Frankie’s owner walking into the cemetery with the dog — with a tipster leading the cops to Martin, authorities said.
She was arraigned Monday and released without bail pending a return to court on Feb. 23.