STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A tip to police from the Animal Health Veterinary Group on Staten Island led to the arrest of the owner of Charlotte, the puppy who was found battered and clinging to life near the railroad tracks in Bay Terrace.
The medical team at the Animal Health Veterinary Group recognized Charlotte from previous visits after seeing a picture of the puppy wearing a pink bow that has been making the rounds on the Internet, according to a source with knowledge of the case.
Staff then contacted the NYPD and provided information about the owner and the puppy.
The pet, then called Snowflake, was brought to the animal clinic location at 2300 Hylan Boulevard in New Dorp by Ms. Ivanchenko in the mid-afternoon last Friday, the source said.
Charlotte was lying down and unable to stand or walk when seen at the clinic last Friday, the source said. Ms. Ivanchenko offered no explanation to clinic staff about what happened to Charlotte other than to say that the dog was fine before it lied down in that manner three days earlier.
The owner refused medical advice -- which was either diagnostics and treatment or humane euthanasia -- and left the office, according to the source.
Charlotte was found -- battered and barely alive and in a black shopping bag -- by Good Samaritans at about 9 p.m. on Friday.
The source added that Charlotte, currently 15 weeks old, was fine when she received her first set of puppy vaccines over the summer.
After Good Samaritans rescued Charlotte, the puppy was initially taken to South Shore Animal Hospital in New Dorp. Charlotte has since been transferred to another undisclosed hospital where she remains in critical condition -- but is improving -- from injuries that include skull and leg fractures.