February 2014 – Lee and Shawanna Hughes and a veterinary assistant, Reginald Smith were charged with various counts of animal cruelty to a 7-month-old puppy named “Miss Harper.” The Nassau County couple and Smith were accused of cutting off the puppy’s ear. Hughes pleased guilty to animal cruelty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years of probation for failure to provide veterinary care to a dog suffering from a neck wound that became so infected that it compromised the dog’s ability to breath. Hughes’ probation also comes with an order barring him from owning animals for five years. Hughes’ wife was sentenced on May 2014 to 30 days in jail and three years of probation on a different animal cruelty charged. She has also been banned from owning animals for five years.