Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - A Syracuse man will spend six months in jail for striking a pitbull named "Rockford" to the point that the puppy's jaw was nearly severed.
Reginald Stepp, 35, of Milton Avenue, was sentenced Tuesday morning. In October, he pleaded guilty in Onondaga County Court.
The puppy was rescued when Stepp pulled into a Fulton auto repair shop. The staff noticed the emaciated dog with its jaw nearly hanging off and took it away from Stepp. The dog was adopted by a woman who was on the scene when the it was it was rescued.
Stepp was held in jail without bail while awaiting his sentencing.
Man accused of dog abuse pleads to cruelty charges
Oct. 20
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - A Syracuse man accused of mistreating a dog so badly it was found emaciated and with a severed jaw pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals on Wednesday.
Reggie Stepp, 35, of Milton Avenue in Syracuse, will be sentenced in November to six months in jail.
In July, the pit bull, named "Rockford," was rescued when automotive workers in Fulton noticed him after Stepp pulled into their shop to have repairs done to his van.
After a special procedure, Rockford's jaw healed and he was adopted by one of his rescuers.
Man arraigned on animal abuse charge
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - A Syracuse man who was arrested on charges that he abused a pit bull named "Rockford" was arraigned in Onondaga County Court on Wednesday.
Reginald Stepp, 35, of Milton Avenue in Syracuse, was arraigned on a charge of aggravated cruelty to an animal.
His bail was also lowered on Wednesday from $100,000 to $10,000 and he is scheduled to return to court next week.
"Rockford" was discovered when Stepp pulled into an auto maintenance business in Fulton. The pit bull's rescuers found him severely emaciated and with a severed jaw.
The dog's jaw has been surgically repaired since he was found and he was adopted by one of his rescuers.
Syracuse man indicted on charges that he abused pit bull
Sept. 15
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - A Syracuse man who was arrested on charges that he abused a pit bull named "Rockford" was indicted by an Onondaga County Grand Jury on Wednesday.
Reginal Stepp, 35, of Milton Avenue in Syracuse, has been indicted on charges that include aggravated cruelty to an animal, failure to provide medical care to an animal, and cruelty to animals.
"Rockford" was discovered when Stepp pulled into an auto maintenance business in Fulton. The pit bull's rescuers found him severely emaciated and with a severed jaw.
The dog's jaw has been surgically repaired since he was found and he was adopted by one of his rescuers.
Man accused of abusing pit bull "Rockford" appears in court
July 12
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - A man accused of abusing a pit bull named "Rockford" remained in police custody on Monday after his first court appearance.
The case of Reginald Stepp, 35, of Milton Avenue in Syracuse, was handed over to an Onondaga County Grand Jury.
An investigator from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be available should the case go to trial.
"The animal was injured. Most important is that the animals got the medical care it needs. I'm told it's doing very well. In my eyes, that's the most important thing," said Paul Morgan of the SPCA. "Unfortunately, someone caused this to happen."
"The penalties aren't as bad as most people think they should be, but I hope he realizes what he did was wrong and I hope he serves his time for it," said the puppy's rescuer, Rachel Dean.
The pit bull, named "Rockford," is recovering after his severed jaw was surgically repaired. Dean rescued him from Stepp's van after it had stopped at a Fulton auto-repair shop, and has since adopted the dog. She said she was taking him home from the veterinarian's office on Monday.
Dean and the other rescuers have been overwhelmed by the community support they have received. A 9-year-old in Fulton collected coins and donated $12 to Rockford's procedure.
"She handed the jar to me and said 'you love animals just as much as I do, I think what you did was great.' She was really cute. adorable," Dean said.
Stepp is being held on several animal cruelty charges including a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty.
'Rockford' bouncing back after surgery
July 9
Oswego (WSYR-TV) - A pit bull rescued with a severed jaw found in a van at a Fulton auto repair shop has had surgery.
Rachel Dean, the woman who rescued "Rockford" and now owns him, said that the puppy went through five and a half hours of surgery in which surgeons installed plates and screws into both sides of his jaw.
A day after surgery, he is already able to move his jaw and ate wet food on his own Friday morning. Dean expects Rockford to return home with her on Monday.
Allegedly abused puppy returns to vet
July 5
Oswego (WSYR-TV) - After spending the weekend with his rescuer, a puppy who was discovered malnourished and with a severed jaw will return to the Fruit Valley Veterinary Clinic for more medical treatment on Monday.
"Rockford," a six to eight month-old pit bull who was found malnourished and with broken bones in a van, was allowed to stay with Rachel Dean over the weekend because the clinic was not staffed. Dean rescued the dog after mechanics discovered him.
Dean said Rockford appeared to be happy and spent most of the weekend asleep. The dog is set to have more x-rays and Dean is waiting to hear from Cornell as to whether or not the dog will be treated by specialists there.
She also said that she had no word on progress made in the investigation by the Central New York CNY.
The dog was discovered in Fulton, but the investigation was turned over to the CNY SPCA because his owner lives in Syracuse.
SPCA to investigate puppy abuse
July 2
Oswego (WSYR-TV) - The CNY SPCA will be investigating the abuse of a puppy who was surrendered at a business in Fulton.
Rockford is a six to eight-month-old pitt bull whose jaw is completely severed. It's only being held on by tissue and skin. The veterinarian says the dog is also malnourished. Rockford's previous owner brought his vehicle to Absolute Auto and Audio in Fulton for work, but when the technicians saw the puppy, they called police.
"As soon as we set him down, we saw his back end is crooked. X-rays yesterday showed a previous break in his thigh and three bones broken in his left foot," said Rachel Dean, who rescued the abused dog.
The rescuers convinced the owner to surrender the dog, which he did willingly. But, because he lives in the city of Syracuse, Fulton P.D. will be handing the case over to the Central New York SPCA.
Rockford is being treated at Fruit Valley Vet Clinic in Oswego . They have him on a special diet to get his weight up. They also put a muzzle on his jaw that they hope will make it fuse back together. If not, he'll need surgery. Cornell told the rescuers that it will cost between $3,000 and $5,000. Those who would like to help can make contributions to Fruit Valley Vet Clinic in Oswego by calling 343-4300. Anyone with information on the case can call the CNY SPCA at 454-4479, not Syracuse Police.
