A Queens man has been charged with animal cruelty after a video surfaced online showing two dogs, a German shepherd and a pit bull, being dragged behind a red Volkswagen Passat in Long Island City. The incident occurred on Sunday evening near the intersection of 11th Street and 43rd Avenue and has stirred considerable community uproar. The shocking footage, as detailed by eyewitnesses and captured on camera, led to the rapid intervention of authorities.
According to the New York Post, 68-year-old Dan Bujor was the driver identified in the video, which also included audible reactions from disturbed onlookers. "What are these motherf--kers doing to this dog, man? They’re dragging him from the back of the f--king car, bro," someone can be heard exclaiming in the distressing recording. In the video, one of the dogs gets unhooked from the vehicle before Bujor is alleged to have collected the animals and then fled the scene.
The NYPD quickly arrested Bujor and charged him with multiple counts, including overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, failure to provide sustenance, and driving by an unlicensed operator. Both dogs, Marzipan and Nougat, were eventually rescued and are currently receiving medical care at an ASPCA facility in Manhattan. As reported by NBC New York, one of the dogs is being treated for a ruptured eardrum while the other suffers from bruises and abrasions.
Following the events, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz condemned the act in a statement obtained by the New York Post, saying, "As alleged, the defendant tied a German shepherd and a pit bull to the back of a car and dragged them down a Long Island City street." She praised the public's efforts who reported the incident and the NYPD for their swift response. The vice president of humane law enforcement at the ASPCA, Howard Lawrence, also released a statement to the press, highlighting the "deeply disturbing" nature of the footage and bringing attention to the broader issue of animal abuse in the city.
Bujor, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was released without bail and is expected to return to court on March 5. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison. Meanwhile, the dog's conditions have sparked both sympathy and outrage among residents and animal welfare advocates, including Jennifer Brooks, founder of New York City Second Chance Rescue. In a statement obtained by NBC New York, she recalled Bujor as having loved animals and stated that in the past, anytime "I have seen him with one of the dogs that was tied to the car. It was a German Shepard and anytime I've seen him in the past he cared for the dog and the dog looked pretty well cared for"
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