RIVERSIDE, NY — A Riverside man was arrested after abusing two dogs and tying one dog's mouth shut with a zipper as a muzzle, police said.
According to Southampton Police, a call came in Friday at approximately 3:38 p.m. requesting a welfare check on two dogs living at a home in Riverside.
Upon arrival, police found two abused/injured dogs “living in inhumane conditions,” one of which had a zipper stuck in its mouth as a makeshift “stalk,” police said.
The resident, Roosevelt Sykes, 54, was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and failure to provide adequate shelter, a misdemeanor, police said.
Sykes was released on an appearance ticket to appear in Southampton Magistrates' Court at a later date, police said.
Both dogs were taken from the scene to an area shelter for medical treatment, police said.
