In a disturbing incident in New York City, a woman is now facing animal cruelty charges after attempting to sell puppies confined in a hot bag on a street corner. The incident unfolded when NYPD officers from the 101 Precinct field training unit were on duty at Beach Channel Drive and Horton Avenue in Queens around 7 p.m.
According to officers at the scene, they observed a woman trying to sell a puppy to another individual. When the prospective buyer inquired about more puppies for sale, the seller produced a sack containing additional dogs. Concerned about the well-being of the animals, the officers intervened and took possession of the sack.
Bodycam footage captured the moment when an officer carefully opened the sack, revealing five pit-bull puppies inside. The distressing video showed the puppies visibly sweating and shaking, prompting one woman to plead for help, urging the officers to take them out.
An officer at the scene expressed the urgency of the situation, noting that the dogs could have succumbed to the extreme heat within minutes. Quick action was taken as officers provided water to the distressed puppies before transporting them to the ASPCA in Manhattan for further evaluation.
The woman responsible for attempting to sell the dogs was identified as 44-year-old Shirley Medina. She has been arrested on multiple charges, including six counts of torture or injury to an animal, six counts of neglect of an impounded animal, and a charge of criminal possession of a weapon.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance against animal cruelty and the swift response of law enforcement in protecting vulnerable animals from harm.
