‘Has a long recovery’: small poodle abused by owner saved by NYPD officers

Matthew Euzarraga
·2 min read
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NEW YORK (PIX11) — A puppy is recovering after NYPD officers rushed him to the vet after he suffered horrific injuries and abuse by his owner, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

On Thursday, May 16, officers from the 33 precinct responded to a woman abusing a tiny 1-year-old poodle. The puppy had signs of a traumatic brain injury, was in shock, and his heart and blood pressure were unstable when he was treated by vets, according to the ASPCA.

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Police can be seen cuffing the woman while officers are asking for the dog’s name. ‘Rocket’ was grabbed by a female officer who immediately started to cry; blood can be seen on the dog’s fur, a video posted to Twitter shows.

Rocket’s injuries were so severe that the poodle was transferred to the Animal Medical Center, an ASPCA veterinary partner.

“When Rocket arrived at our facility, he was also bleeding from his mouth and was found to have a fractured femur. Rocket was immediately treated with various types of intravenous fluids to address his traumatic brain injury and shock and was given pain medication,” a statement from an ASPCA spokesperson read. “AMC diagnosed Rocket with a hemoabdomen, meaning that he was bleeding into his belly, and he received an emergency blood transfusion. “

Rocket survived his initial injuries but has a long recovery. The AMC and the ASPCA thanked the NYPD officers who swiftly saved Rocket’s life.

Rocket’s owner, identified as 25-year-old Cleopatra Morgan, is facing charges of aggravated cruelty to an animal, criminal possession of a weapon, and torture injury to an animal, arrest records show.

Police sources said Morgan was also charged with false impersonation because she gave a false name when identifying himself with the authorities.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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