March 2024: Carlos Lauro of Riverhead pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a German Shepherd with a rifle and was sentenced to one year in jail and a 20-year ban on owning or possessing animals.

January 2024 – Carlos Lauro (76) was arrested and charged with one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and three counts of Neglect of an Impounded Animal after he allegedly shot his young German shepherd in the head with a rifle. An investigation led to the discovery of an illegal slaughterhouse at the man’s Riverhead residence. According to investigators, the puppy, Cranky, was shot in the back because he did not want to come in the house. As someone was trying to comfort the injured puppy, the shooter dragged him back outside and shot him in the head. Surviving animals on the property had no access to clean food and water and they were living among dead animals, including a baby pig and baby goat.