L.I. Man Charged With Attacking Father, Beating Dog With Bat
DIX HILLS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man appeared in court Saturday, on charges that he broke his father's ribs with a baton and then beat the family dog with a baseball bat.
As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, prosecutors in Suffolk County said Steven Errante, 26, first used a baton on his father and broke his father's ribs. At least a day afterward, he attacked the family dog with a baseball bat and beat her so severely that she ended up having to be euthanized, prosecutors said.
L.I. Man Charged With Attacking Father, Beating Dog With Bat
Suffolk County police were called this past Sunday to 800 Deer Park Ave. in Dix Hills, after someone saw the Labrador mixed breed with serious injuries.
The female dog had suffered fractures to her head and face, trauma to her body, and a broken front leg, police said. Police took the dog to an emergency veterinary clinic, and then took her to an animal hospital for further treatment.
Ultimately, the efforts to heal the dog failed. Doctors said the dog was so severely injured that she had to be euthanized.
Following the incident, the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island released updates about the dog, named Chantel Girl. A day ago, the dog had gained strength and was able to stand up and move herself in her cage, and also went outside to use the bathroom, the shelter said in a Facebook post.
But Chantel Girl declined significantly Friday evening.
"Regardless of our aggressive intervention, she became dull, and began to experience seizures, likely as a result of her critical condition and trauma sustained. It is with a heavy heart that we report that 'Chantel Girl' is no longer with us," the shelter said on Facebook. "Thank you all for your kindness, prayers, concern, and support. It is a reminder to us all that from an awful act such as this, that we still must have faith in humanity, as you are all a testament to the good that people can do."
Following an investigation, police arrested Errante in Mastic around 6:50 p.m. Friday. He was charged in the attack on his father and on the dog.
Errante, 26, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals under the New York State Agricultural and Markets law, and second-degree assault.
Errante's attorney, Mary Beth Abbate, said her client is a U.S. Army veteran who spent some time in a Veterans Affairs hospital.
"It's always said, whether it's an animal or a person, it's always, always sad when somebody gets hurt," Abbate said. "But at this point, they're only allegations."
At a hearing in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip Saturday, Errante was ordered by a judge to stay away and have no contact with his father. He was being held on $75,000 bond Saturday.
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