Police in Westchester County have arrested a veterinarian, a veterinarian now facing multiple charges of animal abuse, the Westchester County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) announced Friday.
Dr. Javier Díaz, 46 years old and owner of the veterinary Main Street Animal Hospitalin Elmsford, was charged with second-degree forgery, animal cruelty and assault.
The investigation revealed that between April 9, 2022 and April 27, 2022, Diaz allegedly provided a rabies vaccination certificate and charged a pet owner for not administering the New York State required vaccine.
The defendant also allegedly physically abused pets that were brought to the Main Street Animal Hospital on six occasions. For example, the report says, a two-month-old kitten was hit on the head with an engineered nail clipper and then plunged the clipper into the cat’s mouth, causing the kitten to suffer a laceration to the gums and palate.
Another case involved a dog being punched in the ribs. A Labrador retriever had its front leg twisted and its ribs pricked with nail clippers, causing the dog to scream in pain. The dog was then kicked in the ribs.
The defendant, while treating a three-legged senior German Shepherd dog, allegedly kicked the dog in the chest and then twisted and pulled on the dog’s ear which was being treated for an ear infection. The suspect then kicked the dog a second time in the jaw, causing the dog to jerk its head back and strike a veterinary assistant who was holding the dog in place of him. The veterinary assistant suffered from a nosebleed and suffered from unreasonable physical pain in her head and neck. Additionally, a chihuahua dog was crying in a dog crate when Diaz allegedly hit the dog to make it stop crying. A Shih Tzu dog was also allegedly suffocated and nearly lost consciousness, causing the dog to suffer unwarranted pain and suffering.
“We are absolutely disgusted by the mistreatment these animals suffered at the hands of Javier Díaz, DVM. Veterinarians are sworn to protect the health and welfare of animals so as not to cause pain and misery,” said Shannon Laukhuf, executive director of SPCA Westchester.
A sign on the front door of the animal hospital on Friday said it had been closed by the town; another sign told clients to call another clinic.
Diaz ran out of the Elmsford Police Department when our sister network NBC New York asked him questions about the abuse after a judge released him.
Bárbara Moroch, whose cat Diaz treated, arrived at the clinic after learning that police had arrested the vet. She stopped coming in December.
“I’m glad I took my cat away from him,” Moroch said.
Investigators believe there could be more victims.
“Devastating if the allegation is true. It would be heartbreaking,” said Michael Eannazzo, who recently lost his dog. He said the charges make him wonder what happened behind closed doors.
“I pray to God it wasn’t, but the circumstances that we felt all the time weren’t the right thing to do,” Eannazzo said. “But we don’t know.”
In court, it emerged that three employees reported Diaz to the police, and prosecutors alleged that Diaz also threatened three staff members. He is charged with forgery, six counts of animal cruelty and assault. Information from Diaz’s attorney was not immediately available.
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