NEW YORK — A 1-year-old poodle named Rocket is expected to make a full recovery after suffering horrific injuries and abuse by his owner, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Heroic NYPD officer Kelsey Garcia expressed relief, after initially fearing Rocket wouldn’t survive.
“From the moment we arrived, and I saw his (Rocket) condition. It was on bodycam when the lieutenant asked if he was going to make it. I immediately said no,” Garcia said Wednesday, exclusively on “Banfield.” “To know that he’s made it past the worst and on his way to recovery … hopefully gets adopted to a good home. It makes it all worth it.”
Officers Vincent Caprino and Joseph O’Shea also joined “Banfield” to discuss their rescue mission.
“We all agreed we had to get there pretty quick,” Caprino said. “We all were hoping it wasn’t real … It was hard to see the dog in such a terrible state.”
On May 16, NYPD officers responded to a woman abusing the puppy, New York affiliate WPIX reported. Rocket had signs of a traumatic brain injury, was in shock, and his heart and blood pressure were unstable when he was treated by vets, according to the ASPCA.
Rocket’s injuries were so severe that the poodle was transferred to the Animal Medical Center, an ASPCA veterinary partner.
Rocket’s owner, identified as 25-year-old Cleopatra Morgan, is facing charges of aggravated cruelty to an animal, criminal possession of a weapon, and torture injury to an animal, arrest records show. Morgan reportedly threw the dog over a ledge and told police that she “snapped.”
Garcia told Banfield she’s now considering adopting Rocket.
“He’s a hot commodity. So many people want to meet him. I’m going to visit him tomorrow, and I’ve been thinking about taking him home. But there’s a long list,” Garcia said.
