Northampton Woman Faces Animal Cruelty Charges

A Northampton woman is facing misdemeanor animal cruelty charges after authorities said they found a 9-year-old gray pit bull in her charge that was covered in feces and urine last week, according to the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.Alicia Spradley, 33, was arrested at her Birch Court home last Thursday, October 12, after a Southampton Town Police officer responding to an unrelated call about fallen power lines smelled an “overwhelming” odor of feces and urine in the area, according to Suffolk County SPCA Chief Roy Gross. The officer immediately contacted the SPCA, which, in turn, sent its own investigators to the property and arrested Ms. Spradley.Mr. Gross said the pit bull, named Jewels, was also suffering from an untreated injury, though he declined to specify its location or severity. The pet, he added, was being kept in a small, enclosed space; Mr. Gross could not confirm if Ms. Spradley was the dog’s owner. It was unclear how long the dog was left in Ms. Spradley’s care.He also pointed out that Jewels did not have water to drink and was given “moldy food covered in feces.”“There is no excuse for this,” Mr. Gross said. “If you can’t take care of your pet properly, don’t have one.”Jewels was transported to the Southampton Animal Shelter in Hampton Bays, where she is being treated for her injuries. It was not immediately clear if she would be put up for adoption.Jerry Rosenthal, executive director of the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, could not be immediately reached.Ms. Spradley was ordered to appear in Southampton Town Justice Court on Friday, November 3, according to Mr. Gross. She faces up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both, he added.“If you neglect your pet, you have to pay the price,” Mr. Gross said. “It’s as simple as that.”