12 Dogs, 1 Dead, Found In Filthy Living Conditions At LI Home

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - A Central Islip man was charged with animal cruelty for holding 12 dogs, one which was found already dead, in horrible conditions in his home last week, according to the Suffolk County SPCA.

On Wednesday, December 18, SPCA Detectives responded to a Nagle Lane home to investigate an anonymous tip of multiple dogs confined in filthy crates. The tip also mentioned that one dog was bleeding from injuries and bite wounds.

During the investigation, detectives found seven pit bulls confined in filthy crates in their own feces and urine with no access to food or water, the SPCA said. Several dogs were also found to be emaciated, the SPCA said.

One dog was suffering from untreated open wounds on his head and chest and required life saving surgery. A search warrant was executed by detectives resulted in 10 pit bulls, one Beagle mix and one pit bull who had died were removed from the home. They were transported to an emergency animal hospital by the Islip Animal Shelter.

The resident of the home, 55-year-old Peter Watson, was charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty by Suffolk County SPCA for failure to provide proper sustenance and medical care to his dogs, the SPCA said.

While conducting the search warrant along with Suffolk County Police, a felony amount of cocaine was found in the home, resulting in Watson being rearrested by police, the SPCA said. He was arraigned and released.

All of the dogs were taken to the Islip Animal Shelter and a judge has ordered that Watson could not own or obtain any other animals. The SPCA also started an online fundraiser on GoFundMe for the dog that was found with untreated open wounds, Optimus.

"Optimus was discovered bleeding , with severe untreated bite wounds and lacerations after being. attacked by another dog in the house several days prior," the fundraiser organizer Lois Gross, wrote on the fundraising page. "The wounds were so deep and severe that infection set in, he required surgery to place drains in and surgically repair the wounds before he turned septic."

The page is looking to raise $695 for Optimus's surgery. As of Monday, $50 has been raised.

To read more or to donate, visit their GoFundMe page here.