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New York City Man Faces Animal Cruelty Charges for Allegedly Beating, Permanently Blinding Dog

What to Know

  • Queens man was indicted on animal cruelty charges for allegedly beating dog so severely that she was left permanently blind, prosecutors say
  • Luis Jimenez, 26, of Long Island City is accused of hitting a Chihuahua-type dog over the head with a metal rod following an argument
  • If Jimenez is convicted, he faces up to nine years in prison

A Queens man was indicted Wednesday on animal cruelty charges for allegedly beating a dog so severely that the small animal was left permanently blind in one eye, prosecutors say.

Luis Jimenez, 26, of Long Island City, is facing a three-count indictment charging him with second-degree criminal mischief, overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, failure to provide sustenance and aggravated cruelty to animals, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said.

If convicted, Jimenez faces up to nine years in prison.

Jimenez was ordered to return to court on May 3 and his bail was set at $15,000.

Attorney information for Jimenez was not immediately available.

According to Brown, shortly after 9 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2018, Jimenez was allegedly in a fight with the bother of the dog’s owner. After the fight, the dog owner’s mother allegedly witnessed the 8 pound dog, named Gigi, walk toward Jimenez. Surveillance video allegedly captured Jimenez strike the Chihuahua-type dog in the head with a metal rod, prompting the dog to yelp out in pain.

Investigating detectives took Gigi to the ASPCA the following day where a veterinarian completed a comprehensive examination on the pup that allegedly showed that the two-year-old dog suffered severe damage to her right eye and a broken right cheekbone, prosecutors say.

The dog’s injuries were consistent with having suffered blunt force trauma to the head and the small dog ow lives with excruciating pain and is permanently blind in her right eye, Brown said, adding that Gigi is still undergoing treatment at the ASPCA and may require surgery to remove the damaged eye.

“This kind of alleged brutality against an eight-pound dog is both senseless and heartless,” Brown said in a statement.

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