Paterson NJ Animal Cruelty ArrestPolice investigators have identified a “person of interest” in the case of a dog that died after being abused and violently thrown from a car on a street in Paterson, NJ.

According to authorities, the dog was thrown from a vehicle driving on Granite Avenue in Paterson last weekend.

Witnesses who saw the incident dialed 911 and contacted the Paterson Police Department, which sent police officers to the scene. Police later found a severely emaciated dog that appeared to be the victim of dog abuse. According to officials with the SPCA, the Shih Tzu dog weighed just six pounds – a far cry from the average weight of 20 pounds for a dog of this type.

The dog was treated by animal rescue teams at an animal shelter in Oakland, New Jersey. Tragically, the treatment did not save the dog’s life. Officials later indicated that the cause of death was abuse and chronic neglect.

Detectives with the Paterson Police Department recently identified the suspect and arrested him. He will probably be subject to criminal charges for animal cruelty. It is also possible that the suspect could face enhanced penalties because the New Jersey Criminal Code stipulates that animal cruelty charges can be upgraded when the dog abuse victim dies.

To learn more about this case, access the NJ.com article, “Animal-Cruelty Charges to Be Upgraded Following Death of ‘Grant.’”