LI Police: Dog Euthanized After Being Strangled, Beaten With Shovel

LEVITTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Levittown man has been arrested on a cruelty-to-animals charge after Nassau County police said he tried to strangle his dog before hitting it with a shovel.

Michael Gallagher, 56,  was awaiting an initial court appearance Saturday, a day after his arrest. It was not immediately clear who would represent him in.

Nassau County police said Gallagher was arrested after a neighbor saw him try to strangle and suffocate his Shepherd-mix dog using a zip tie before putting it in a bag and hitting it with a shovel. 

"You couldn't even see the tie around its neck because it was that embedded," one neighbor told 1010 WINS' Roger Stern.

Police say the neighbor confronted Gallagher and he ran away. The dog was taken to Levittown Animal Hospital and euthanized.

Neighbors said Gallagher showed no emotion.

"No affect, no affect at all," one neighbor said.

Gallagher was arrested at a 7-Eleven location store at 10:30 p.m. He was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, among other charges.

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