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Dr. Amr Wasfi, 74, the owner of Black Rock Animal Center, in Bridgeport, was arrested on a warrant on Thursday, May 2, and charged with animal cruelty and fraud in the case that almost killed a dog who was taken to the doctor for help when he was limping, said the Bridgeport Police.
The investigation into Wasfi began in Dec. 17, 2018, when the department received a complaint of animal cruelty from an employee of the clinic who said she witnesses the doctor hit a kitten that was being spayed and while the kitten was restrained and under anesthesia, she saw Wasfi strike the kitten which such force that it came free from the restraints and its intestines came out, police said.
The second complaint was reported on March 25, after another patient, Joe Valentin, had to forcibly remove his dog from the doctor's office with the help of animal control police after being there for almost a month, police said.
In that case, the dog, "Monster," had been taken to the animal hospital because he had a limp. The doctor told Valentin that he had a sprain and sent him home with medicine. When the medicine did not work, Monster went back to the clinic and his owner was told that he had a fracture of the right pelvis and needed to have surgery. The doctor told Valentin that he would have the dog back on March 7.
On that date, the doctor said he needed to keep Monster longer and would not let him see his dog. This continued until March 25 when he demanded to see his dog and was denied again. Valentin called animal control and police who helped him remove the dog, who was almost dead and take him to Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine for treatment.
When Monster went in to have the surgery he weighed 63.4 pounds, when they picked him up he weighed 46 pounds, had bones protruding and stitches running along his back, police said.
Doctors at Central Hospital reviewed Monster's x-rays and said he never had a fractured pelvis and did not need a screw that was placed inside his body. They also said he was starving and would need special treatment. Both doctors who reviewed the case said they would appear in court to testify against Wasfi, Bridgeport Police said.
The fraud charge comes from Wasfi charging Valentin more than $3,000, which he paid for the surgery.
He was arrested during a traffic stop by Derby police who found that he was wanted on the warrant. He was released on $10,000 bond.
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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