NEW YORK — A New York veterinarian has been charged with six counts of animal abuse for allegedly physically abusing pets that were brought into the Main Street Animal Hospital where he worked on six different occasions, according to SPCA Westchester.
The SPCA Westchester’s Humane Law Enforcement Unit along with the assistance of the Westchester District Attorney’s Office, say they arrested 46-year-old, Dr. Javier Diaz, who is the owner of Main Street Animal Hospital in Elmworth, according to an Instagram post from SPCA Westchester.
“Diaz, while treating a three-legged senior german shepherd, kicked the dog in the chest and then twisted and pulled the dog’s ear that was being treated for an ear infection so hard that the dog screamed incessantly. He then kicked the dog a second time in its jaw causing the dog to jerk its head backwards striking a veterinary assistant that was holding the dog in place. The veterinary assistant suffered a bloody nose and suffered unjustifiable physical pain to her head and neck.”
— SPCA Westchester
SPCA Westchester also says that other allegations during their investigation included a two-month-old kitten who they say was allegedly hit on the head with a dog nail clipper so hard that it was cut. Another was a labrador retriever that allegedly had his front paw twisted and kicked in the ribs along with a nail clipper jabbed into them.
News 12 The Bronx reports that officials learned that some of this alleged activity was caught on camera while the owners were waiting in the lobby for their pets.
Diaz has been booked on recommended charges of six counts of animal cruelty, third-degree assault and second-degree forgery.
During Diaz’s arraignment in court, a judge issued three orders of protection for him to stay away from those who reported him, according to News 12 The Bronx. He has since been released on bail and is expected to be in court on May 11.
If you have any information to share or you suspect your pet was injured under his care, you are asked to call SPCA’s 24-hour animal cruelty hotline at 914-941-7797.