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ACTION ALERT
Animal Cruelty

Another horrific case of animal cruelty is before the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. This case involves a father and son who allegedly tortured their rabbits by purposely encouraging their dog to attack the rabbits, by kicking the rabbits, "karate chopping" the rabbits with their hands, and skinning a rabbit who was still alive.

The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals charged the two men, Matteo and Rosario Loverso, with cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor. Because the rabbits were allegedly raised for food, they are not included within the scope of New York's "Buster Law" which makes acts of extreme cruelty to animals a felony.

However, it is important to note that New York's animal fighting law (section 351 of the Agriculture and Markets Law) states that persons engaged in animal fighting are guilty of a felony. Given that the dog was encouraged to attack the rabbits (It's on tape!), we are suggesting to the Suffolk County SPCA and the Suffolk County D.A.'s office to add the felony animal fighting charge.