Curtis Rist, 63, of Greenport was arrested on Monday, February 20, 2023 on two counts of animal cruelty. Greenport Police received a complaint from an individual who saw multiple dogs in a yard in “terrible condition.” The report claimed that the dogs’ coats were so matted that they could barely move. Greenport Police responded to the call and found five dogs, all in deplorable condition. The police contacted the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA (CGHS/SPCA) for assistance. After discussions with Greenport Police and Humane Society officials, Rist agreed to surrender the five dogs to the CGHS/SPCA.
Upon arrival at the shelter, the five Mini Goldendoodles were examined by shelter staff and a veterinarian. Two of the five dogs were in a condition that needed immediate attention. One dog, a 5-year-old named “Wally,” was so matted that it was described as an “exoskeleton.” It took a veterinarian and two veterinary technicians two hours to peel the matted shell off of Wally. He was anesthetized during the shaving procedure due to the pain he would have had to endure.
All five dogs, ranging in age from four to ten years, are expected to make a full recovery and will be placed up for adoption. For more information, please contact the CGHS/SPCA at (518) 828-6044 or [email protected]. Interested potential homes can visit the shelter’s website at cghs.org to fill out an application to be pre-approved for adoptions.
