Bay Shore man charged with beating pit bull pup, tethering him with short leash

A Bay Shore man faces multiple charges for allegedly beating his dog with a stick and inhumanely keeping the pet in an illegally short tether, animal authorities said Monday.

Dashawn Moore, 33, was charged with one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law and one misdemeanor count of insufficient tether length under the Suffolk County Code, Suffolk County SPCA Roy Gross said.

Moore struck his 1-year-old male pit bull mix, Knox, with a stick during an incident in March 2026, causing the dog to yelp and yowl. Moore had no justifiable reason for the attack, investigators said.

Additionally, Moore kept Knox tethered to a railing using a tether shorter than the legally required 15 feet. Knox was surrendered to the SPCA and is being cared for at the Islip Animal Shelter.

SPCA detectives charged Moore last Wednesday and issued him a field appearance ticket. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk First District Court in Central Islip on July 7.

_{Top: Knox, a 1-year-old pit bull (Suffolk SPCA)}