ASPCA: Man Threw Dog Off Roof

NEW YORK - A New York City man has been arrested, accused of throwing his one year old dog from the roof of a six-floor city housing project in Brooklyn, critically injuring the animal.

Joseph Pentangelo, assistant director at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, says surgeons reassembled the terrier mix's front legs.  All four of the dog's limbs had to be surgically repaired with plates and screws. She also suffered internal bruising and damage to her lungs

"This was unquestionably an act of cruelty," he said.

The 45-pound dog, named "Oreo" by investigators, is able to walk again.

"She is healing, but it is a long road ahead," Pentangelo said.

ASCPA officers arrested 19-year-old Fabian Henderson on Friday on felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and reckless endangerment. His lawyer's name was not immediately known.

Residents of the Red Hook Houses called the ASCPA last month, saying a dog was being beaten inside an apartment. Neighbors later called to say a dog had been thrown off a building's roof.

It was unclear whom the dog belongs to.

While Henderson's family said Oreo did not belong to them, NYPD Housing Police issued Henderson a summons for walking a dog off-leash that fit Oreo's description 12 days before the incident, sources said.

ASPCA Special Agent Peter Rivas spent two weeks conducting interviews before Henderson was arrested.

The teen didn't comment to reporters when he was brought into the 76th Precinct station on charges of animal cruelty, reckless endangerment and criminal trespass.

At first, Henderson, who has a prior robbery arrest, allegedly admitted to the crime.

But he later claimed the dog jumped off the roof, though investigators say a large ledge made it unlikely the dog could have just fallen, sources said.

>ASPCA