ASPCA Finds Animal Cruelty Suspect Via Facebook

The ASPCA says it used Facebook to find a man accused of breaking a Yorkshire terrier's leg. Yesterday, the Post reported that Donnell Walters, 22, "was busted yesterday for allegedly taking the tiny Yorkshire terrier he'd given his boyfriend as an engagement gift and smashing her down until he'd shattered her leg." Wlaters and Omar Koonce, 20, had been arguing outside their Queens home in July when, allegedly took four-year-old pup Lucy "by the neck and started slamming her against the stairwell three times and dropped her to the ground." The ASPCA couldn't find Walters at first, but then tracked him through Facebook (apparently Friday was his birthday)—and arrested him at his workplace on charges of felony animal cruelty and criminal mischief. As for Lucy, she has recovered—her leg needed "pins, plates and a splint to repair." Here's the ASPCA's Facebook page.

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By Jen Chung in News on September 13, 2009 2:36 PM

Comments [rss]

gerryvisco

Hey, I didn't like reading about Hitler, either. But sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and face the world, cruel as it may be.

Hurray for Facebook!

This is a relatively happy ending.

Snoopy

What kind of name is Donnell? It sounds kind of Irish or Scotch. Not from county Yorkshire is the name?

Past Taliban

PS to Donnell Walters, 22, of Queens: actually I DON'T hope you have 24 hour security and a personal bodyguard whereever you go, if you catch my drift.....

Snoopy

How about doing this to him, "grab him by the neck and start slamming him against the stairwell three times and drop him to the ground." All being done within the scale of him to the dog.

Past Taliban

To Donnell Walters, 22, of Queens; I hope you have 24 hour security and a personal bodyguard whereever you go.

Quenepa

There are other NYC based blogs - you don't have to read it either.

I enjoy the variety of news on Gothamist - it is always interesting. I was also able to go to the ASPCA page on Facebook and donate - thanks to Gothamist and making this story available. Sure I could have just gone there myself but awareness spurs people to action.

hunter.blatherer

Actually, under reported stories like this should definitely get space wherever possible. Part of the reason people do shit like this is they think there are no consequences.

Congrats to the ASPCA folks who did this good work, congrats to the vets who treated Lucy, and thanks to Gothamist and the Post for reporting it.

Did I just thank the NY Post? Well, first time for everything.

dannyhellman

Yeah, no more sad dog-beating stories for me, either! Just quietly give all dog-beaters the death penalty, but don't tell me anything about it. While we're at it, no more sad news of any kind, please!

g0thamg1rl

I honestly think whatever cruel abuse that is done to an animal should also be done to the abuse... throw them down a few times on the ground, throw them off the 4 story building etc. The laws definitely need to be made so much stronger against animal abusers. I'm glad that ASPCA stepped in and took care of this P.O.S. These scum bag abusers have no conscience.

DanielJ

Not sure if I'm the only one, but all this animal cruelty stuff doesn't need to be reported here. There's been a rash of articles like this recently and all they do is make me sad. I just don't really want to hear about it; it's not news.

AJ WEBERMAN

Shut up cowardly maggot

Amanda Harletsch

booo FKN HOOOO!

It is called public service BECAUSE THIS FUCKRS ARE DANGEROUS for civilization at large! It is a FACT that individuals that abuse living creatures to make a retarded statement about their anger and incompatibility with rational communication, will be doing the same to any other defenseless creature.

So get over your SAD self and realize this FUKRS need to be punished or exterminated, tehrefore these notes helps society, tehrefore are NEWS!

BRAIN PLEASE!

Mr Mel

"Not sure if I'm the only one"

Rest assured, you're the only one.

VanessaNYC

It's horrible and sad AND it's news. It's not fun to read about, but it's important to get angry at the perpetrators so that we keep animal cruelty laws tough.

As difficult as these stories are to read, I'm happy that Gothamist keeps us aware of the prevalence of these crimes.