The disparity in court rulings can be mind-boggling. We recently celebrated quite a few courtroom victories and are now perplexed and sickened to learn that the man in New York who burned his elderly dog alive after restraining a guest who objected to his cruelty has received only a reduced charge and probation, no jail time. This is a disturbing slap in the face of justice.

According to police reports, Jeremy J. Vankuren of Fillmore, New York was arrested on June 29, 2023, and charged with a list of offenses:

• Kidnapping 2nd degree (B Felony)
• Aggravated Animal Cruelty (E Felony)
• Menacing 3rd degree (B Misdemeanor)
• Torturing/Injuring Failure to Provide Sustenance (A Misdemeanor)
• Obstruction of Governmental Administration (A Misdemeanor)

He was arraigned at the town of Hume Court and remanded to the Allegany County Jail for $20,000 cash and $40,000 bond.

The Amity-based New York State Police responded after New York State Troopers received the report. It was the case that Vankuren restrained a guest in his chair and forced him to watch as he lifted his aged red-nose pit bull into a barrel of flames. Of the shocking crime Trooper James O’Callaghan commented, “For someone to take their own pet and burn it alive, while also tying someone else down to a chair, it does make you curious as to what is the possibility of this person doing something else?”

The Allegany County District Attorney’s Office and the Allegany County SPCA assisted in this investigation and we delivered a letter with the signatures from 15,125 In Defense of Animals supporters urging strong prosecution to the District Attorney at the time, Brad Slep, who recommended his replacement of Ian M. Jones before retiring. We’re shocked with Ian Jones’ going forward with offering an extremely weak plea deal. 

How is it possible that this court let a violent criminal plead guilty to a misdemeanor and get off with only three years of probation? 

If you’re as unhappy as we are about how this case was settled, please make a call to the Allegany County District Attorney’s Office:

Phone: (585) 268-9225

You can ask to speak to Allegany County District Attorney Ian M. Jones or leave a message after hours for him at any time. 

We thank you for your support of In Defense of Animals and your participation in seeking justice and freedom from suffering for each animal’s plight that we report on. 

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