The Suffolk County SPCA is now offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever was responsible for an animal cruelty incident that left a turtle dead after it was found tethered inside a submerged cage at Geiger Park Lake in Deer Park.
Town of Babylon Park Rangers discovered the turtle while responding to a complaint about numerous e-bikes in Geiger Park, according to the SPCA.
Rangers were alerted to a cage secured with zip ties and submerged underwater. When they pulled the cage from the lake, they found a turtle with a fishhook stuck in its mouth that had been tethered inside the enclosure, preventing it from escaping.
The turtle was rescued at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, and taken to West Islip Veterinary Hospital for emergency evaluation and treatment.
The Suffolk County SPCA said the animal later died as a result of the cruelty.
Pat Valusek, chairperson of the New York State Humane Association, said the organization supports the Suffolk County SPCA’s efforts to identify whoever was responsible.
“The New York State Humane Association supports the efforts of the Suffolk County SPCA to find those responsible for inflicting such awful cruelty on this poor turtle resulting in its death,” Valusek said.
Suffolk County SPCA Chief Roy Gross urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
Anyone who witnessed suspicious activity around Geiger Park Lake or has information about the case is asked to contact the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-7722. All calls will be kept confidential.
Photo: Suffolk County SPC
