A 20-year-old Wheatley Heights man is facing two misdemeanor animal cruelty charges after Suffolk County SPCA detectives say they found his four-year-old Cane Corso locked in a basement behind a metal door held shut with three vehicle tires, severely emaciated and covered in untreated wounds. Isaiah Thomas was issued a Field Appearance Ticket on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and the dog, named Apollo, has since been transferred to a local shelter for emergency treatment.
According to Greater Long Island, SPCA investigators determined that Thomas kept Apollo confined behind the tire-barricaded door while withholding adequate food, water, and care. As News12 New York reports, Thomas is charged under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law and is scheduled for arraignment on Oct. 5 at Suffolk First District Court in Central Islip.
A Body Condition Score That Signals Crisis
SPCA officers reported that Apollo was found with a Body Condition Score of 2 out of 9 on the standard veterinary scale, a measurement that Greater Long Island's reporting indicates points to an under-ideal condition. Per the same account, medical evaluation also revealed a severe flea infestation, excoriations, open wounds, generalized muscle loss, and widespread skin disease marked by hair loss, crusting, and scabbing.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association defines a score between 1 and 3 out of 9 as under-ideal, according to guidance cited by Embark Veterinary. Specifically, a score of 2 indicates visible ribs, spine, and pelvic bones, no palpable fat, and minimal muscle loss. For a large working breed like the Cane Corso — adult males typically stand 25 to 27.5 inches tall and weigh between 99 and 110 pounds, per the American Kennel Club — that level of muscle wasting is especially debilitating given the breed's naturally heavy frame.
The Legal Exposure Thomas Now Faces
Thomas faces two misdemeanor counts tied to failing to provide Apollo with proper food, water, and veterinary care, according to the SPCA. Under New York Agriculture and Markets Law Section 353, misdemeanor animal cruelty carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine, or both, upon conviction, as outlined by the New York City Bar Association. The statute covers overdriving, torturing, or failing to provide proper sustenance or care to an animal.
The Suffolk County SPCA, founded in 1984 and led by Chief Roy Gross, is the sole humane law enforcement agency in the county authorized under state law to investigate animal cruelty and make arrests, according to Newsday. Notably, the organization operates as an independent nonprofit that receives no funding from New York State or Suffolk County, relying entirely on private donations to carry out its enforcement work, per the agency's own materials.
A Pattern of Cruelty Cases on Long Island
This is not the first high-profile animal cruelty case the SPCA has pursued in the region this year. Hoodline previously reported on a turtle found zip-tied underwater in nearby Deer Park, and on a decapitated baby goat dumped near a Bellport overpass in March. Suffolk County was also the first municipality in the country to create a public Animal Abuser Registry, established in October 2010 to track convicted offenders and support long-term ownership bans handed down by local courts.
Several questions remain unresolved in Apollo's case, including who alerted authorities to the conditions in the basement, how long the dog had been confined there, and his long-term prognosis as he continues treatment at the shelter. Thomas's arraignment next month is expected to address the formal charges against him.
