We usually receive mug shot renderings of murderers and rapists, but the picture at left is a first for the state of New Jersey. Sent to Baristanet by Paterson's Chief Animal Control Officer John De Cando, he says it's the first-ever sketch of a suspected animal abuser. A $7,500 reward is being offered for information leading to arrest and conviction.
De Cando (whom we last heard from about an abused beagle pup) says while Sean Barber and a friend were visiting Paterson falls they saw a man tie up an ailing boxer to a fence then abandon it. Barber protested, but the suspect took off saying "my wife and I don't want this dog no more." Barber's 911 call brought De Cando on the spot within ten minutes. "The dog was in bad shape, bleeding. I brought her to the pound, and we discovered the dog was pregnant. She delivered eight pups, but only two survived, " De Cando says.
"A couple of weeks went by and I was thinking, how can we catch this guy," says de Cando. Thinking it might be a long shot, he asked Detective Sgt. Kenny Collazo if he'd send down a police artist for an animal abuse case. Collazo, a forensic composite artist, sat with Barber for seven hours...when the sketch was completed, Barber said "that's him."
Officer De Cando has distributed flyers, gotten local TV and
newspaper coverage, but still needs "someone to drop the dime" on the suspect. "The suspect walked to the falls," he might live nearby, he said. If you have information, call Passaic County SPCA at 973-773-0459 or Paterson Animal Control at 973-881-3640.
The abandoned dog, both her pups, and Champ the beagle have all been adopted and been nursed back to health.

















Now you know I like animals better than most people. Good for the artist and DeCando and I hope they catch this creep.