PORTAGE — Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of a Portage resident on a felony Animal Cruelty charge following an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.
On June 17 at approximately 11:34 a.m., Deputies responded to an address on Stilson Road in the Town of Portage to investigate a report that a dog had been shot.
Through the investigation, Deputies and Investigators were able to confirm that a Rottweiler had in fact been shot and killed at the residence.
Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 39-year-old Zachary Pruonto of Portage and charged him with felony Aggravated Cruelty to Animals.
It is alleged that Pruonto shot and killed the dog.
Pruonto was transported to the Livingston County Jail where he was turned over to Central Booking Deputies for processing and released with an appearance ticket as the offense does not qualify for bail under the NYS Bail Reform Act.
Pruonto is scheduled to appear at the Town of Portage Court at a later date.
Assisting with the investigation was the Sheriff’s Office Forensic Identification Unit as well as the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office.
