4-month-old Chihuahua puppy to death with his bare hands yesterday, police
said.
Cops said Robert Goldstein, 26, of Holbrook savagely bashed the helpless
animal, named "Prada," against the pavement on a street in Ronkonkoma early yesterday morning, after an argument with his 20-year-old girlfriend.
"That dog was my child," sobbed the young woman, who asked to be identified only by her first name, Jennifer.
"I loved him more than anything. This is all because I didn't show up at his
bowling league," said Jennifer, as she clutched the puppy's tiny sweater.
She said Goldstein, a swimming-pool worker and Army veteran, bought her the newborn pup as a gift, then became jealous of the affection she showered on the dog.
Three times in the past few months, she said, the 180-pound Goldstein had
exploded in a jealous rage, grabbed 4-pound Prada by the neck, and threatened to kill him, shouting:
"Come back and talk to me or I'll snap his neck."
"He's nuts. He's got an anger problem. I've been trying to get away from him, but he won't let me," said Jennifer.
She said Goldstein, whom she has known since grade school and with whom she has had a stormy relationship for several years, often became violent when drunk.
When Goldstein threatened to "beat the crap" out of her yesterday, she tried
to flee in her car - but he snatched Prada away, she said.
"When he's drinking, he goes insane," said Jennifer. "He was crazy and jealous and so angry at me. I was holding Prada like a baby and he grabbed him."
When she pleaded for him to stop, she said, Goldstein mocked her and snarled:
"You want your dog back?"
"He had him in his hand and he slammed him into the street and then kept
slamming him into the curb over and over," Jennifer said.
Goldstein allegedly then tossed the dying animal back to her, saying:
"You want your dog - now it's . . . dead!"
"You killed him!" Jennifer screamed.
A nearby resident called cops, and Goldstein allegedly fled in his van.
He was arrested a short distance away and charged with DWI and aggravated animal cruelty, a felony.
Jennifer said she is heartbroken about her pet, who never left her side and even slept with her. "I have his little sweater and I will keep his ashes,"
she sobbed.. "He was so helpless."
Goldstein "really didn't seem to show any remorse," said Suffolk SPCA
Detective Gary Rogers. "It's a horrible story."
Colleen Nugent, Esq.
Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex
200 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Fax: (631) 852-2543
Contact:
Part 10, 4th Floor, Room 18
Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex
200 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Fax: (631) 852-1795
I am writing in reference to Robert Goldstein, who allegedly beat to death a Chihuahua puppy named Prada. I understand that, while in a drunken rage, Mr. Goldstein savagely bashed the helpless animal against the pavement on a street in after an argument with his 20-year-old girlfriend.
As you may know, social scientists and law enforcement officials have identified animal abuse as a symptom of emotional illness and a precursor to violent crimes against human beings.
I request that the harshest penalty be imposed against Mr. Goldstein, including the maximum jail sentence. In addition, I strongly suggest that he receive mandatory psychological counseling and be prohibited from ever owning or harboring animals.
Thank you very much for your time and effort.
Sincerely,
A Friend of PTI
