Buffalo Woman, Cheektowaga Woman Charged with Animal Cruelty
June 1, 2018
By: Gina Browning, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
SPCA Serving Erie County animal cruelty investigators have charged a Buffalo woman and a Cheektowaga woman with animal cruelty in two separate incidences.
On May 18, Maria Sarago of Hedwig Avenue in Cheektowaga appeared in Cheektowaga Town Court on one count of animal cruelty, a class A misdemeanor. Sarago is accused of failing to provide veterinary care to Cody, her 14-year-old Akita/Chow mix, who suffered from skin, eye, ear, and nasal conditions, pressure sores, foot and nail conditions making it difficult to walk, and who was left without adequate shelter on a front porch without water. During the investigation, conducted by SPCA Animal Cruelty Investigators and NYS Peace Officers William Heine and Tyler Robertson, Cody was transported to the SPCA’s West Seneca shelter infirmary, where he received immediate veterinary attention. A civil bond hearing May 31 resulted in adjournment. Sarago will next appear in court June 14. At this time, Cody has not been surrendered to the SPCA.
On May 25, Cyd Muniz Ginorio, currently of Normal Avenue in Buffalo, was arraigned in Buffalo City Court on one count of animal cruelty after her dog, a 1-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix, Butter, was found severely emaciated at Ginorio’s former Stockbridge Avenue residence. SPCA Animal Cruelty Investigators and NYS Peace Officers Joseph Carbone and Paul LeShay were involved in the March investigation and, upon finding Butter, brought him to the SPCA’s infirmary for emergency care and treatment. Butter was signed over to the SPCA by Ginorio, who is next scheduled to appear in court June 12.
Keep watching YourSPCA.org for the progress of these cases.
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If you are concerned over what you believe may be an animal cruelty situation in Erie County, please contact the SPCA Serving Erie County during normal business hours at
716-875-7360 or cruelty@yourspca.org.
In after-hours emergencies Monday through Saturday, 4:00 p.m. – midnight and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – midnight, please call our animal cruelty emergency hotline, 716-712-0251.
If you need to make an emergency report between midnight at 8:00 a.m., please contact your local animal control agency or police department.
The SPCA will respond to anonymous complaints.