MANORVILLE, NY (CBS 2/ WCBS 880) - A woman who was supposed to rescue unwanted animals is accused of euthanizing dogs without a veterinarian’s license in a shocking cruelty case on Long Island.
The allegations of what happened behind the manicured fences of the horse farm in Manorville are disturbing, reports CBS 2′s Scott Rapoport.
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s terrible,” a neighbor said.
LISTEN: WCBS 880′s Sophia Hall reports from Long Island
Mona Kanciper, 48, runs the New York Horse Rescue Farm in Manorville, which takes in unwanted horses. Now, she’s been accused of euthanizing three dogs without a license to practice veterinary medicine, and she faces three felony charges of animal cruelty.
“I just can’t understand why anybody would do anything like this,” said Suffolk County SPCA Chief Roy Gross.
Suffolk County SPCA officials say Kanciper is also charged with allegedly choking a dog after incorrectly trying to perform euthanasia, which investigators say led to the dog’s death.
“When the dog was not dying, and apparently suffering from not dying from the drugs she was illegally administering, she actually began choking the dog,” said Chief Gross said.
Gross said Kanciper has also been charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly euthanizing the dogs in front of minors.
Neighbors in the area are shocked.
“Really? I had no idea. Really?” one neighbor said.
Back at the farm, workers said Kanciper was out of town, and they had no comment.
Kanciper was arraigned Wednesday. She pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was released without bail.
She released the following statement on Thursday:
“I am innocent and will be relentless in my fight to protect both my family and my reputation…I am confident that once all the facts come out, I will be completely vindicated.”
Kanciper is due back in court on September 30.
6 Comments
As sad as humane euthanizations are, this is a totally different case. The difference is vets are trained to euthanize without suffering, and these animals suffered. It is illegal to euthanize an animal if you are not a vet, it is illegal to kill an animal instead of providing veterinary care, and it is definitely illegal as well as sick to have two little kids hold a dog down while you strangle it to death.
August 27, 2010 at 6:43 am
I think K-9 police dogs forced to ride in the back of a car all day is cruelty, who should we arrest?
August 26, 2010 at 10:47 pm
where did she get the drugs from…these are heavy duty sedatives,and narcotics ,that are only available to the Medical,or Vetinary profession………!
August 26, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Her Ex was a veterinarian…who died a few months ago
August 26, 2010 at 5:28 pm
f’n wacko animal activists. This isn’t animal cruelty. PETA kills hundreds of thousands of animals a year.
August 26, 2010 at 11:03 am
it might not be animal cruelty, but it is illegal and she shall pay the price of willfully breaking the law.
August 26, 2010 at 11:09 am