Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and NJ Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) President Steve Shatkin today announced the arrest of Nicholas Piccolino, 33, of Seaside Heights, in connection with the beating death of 10 year-old female Bichon Frise dog named “Booshu”.
The arrest stems from an animal abuse incident reported on August 19, 2016, at approximately 9:55 pm, to the Seaside Heights Police.
Booshu’s owner alleged that Piccolino, who was alone with the dog in her kitchen, caused the dog’s death.
An investigation by NJSPCA Det. Sergeant Larry Donato, with assistance from the Seaside Heights Police Department, determined that during Piccolino’s time alone with Booshu, a resident of the house upstairs heard several loud banging sounds and a dog yelping in the kitchen below. Shortly after, Piccolino notified the dog’s owner that something was wrong with her dog. Booshu’s owner found the dog dead on the floor of the bathroom. Piccolino claimed that Booshu “dirtied” herself in her crate and that while he was cleaning her up, he dropped her.
Booshu was transported to Red Bank Animal Hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
A subsequent necropsy performed on Booshu by Dr. Shannon Swist of the NJ Animal Health Diagnostic Lab found that Booshu suffered multiple blunt force injuries to her head and body which contributed to her death.
According to officials, yesterday, having received the necropsy report and having completed witness interviews, Det. Donato presented his findings to Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Heidi Tannenbaum-Newman who approved Third Degree charges pursuant to NJSA Title 4:22-17c(1) and 4:22-17 c (3)(a) of Torment, torture, unnecessarily or cruelly beat a living animal resulting in their death.
His bail was set at $35,000 and he was remanded to the Ocean County Jail in default of bail.