Queens man accused of beating Boston terrier puppy to death

Prosecutors said Tuesday that a Queens resident was charged with subjecting his Boston Terrier puppy to a series of beatings that caused the dog “excruciating pain” before it died from its wounds.

Paul Verita faces multiple allegations of animal cruelty and mistreatment of his puppy Espy between September and the dog’s death in November. Espie was only 10 weeks old when she died, prosecutors said.

If found guilty, 49-year-old Verita faces up to two years in prison.

“When you see how a gullible, defenseless creature abused this puppy during his short, tormented life, it breaks your heart,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said Tuesday. “The accused will be held accountable for the violence he is alleged to have inflicted on this unfortunate animal.”

According to Queens prosecutors, Espy was so badly injured that she was unable to walk or stand before she died.

Verite repeatedly took his pup to the Austin Veterinary Clinic and Blue Pearl Animal Hospital multiple times during the fall, where the pup was treated for extensive head trauma and blunt force trauma.

Investigators learned that Espy ultimately died from a seizure caused by a traumatic brain injury.

According to prosecutors, Verite decided to euthanize Espy, but was unable to explain to the veterinarians who treated Espy how the dog was so severely injured.

An autopsy later revealed that Espy had been regularly beaten. Of the dog’s 26 ribs, 21 were either broken or half broken. Investigators noted that Espy had received “multiple blows with a blunt object” prior to her death.

“These injuries left Espy in excruciating pain before dying,” Queens prosecutors said Tuesday.

Investigators arrested Verite on 6 February. He was given an appearance report and returned to court on Monday when criminal charges were brought against him. He is due back in court in April.

A call to his attorney James O’Hara for comment was not immediately returned on Tuesday.