New home for dog abused on elevator


A pit bull mix who was kicked and slapped by her owner on an apartment house elevator — that’s the surveillance video above — has been adopted by a young New York couple.

Richard Palacios, a 33-year-old SoHo waiter, and his fiance, Natalya Prokenpenko, 24, adopted the dog Friday, according to the New York Post.

“We didn’t know her story … When we saw the video, my fiancée started crying,” Prokopenko said.

The dog, who appears pretty happy with the new developments, is now known as Hazel.

Prokenpenko said as soon as they entered their Queens home with Hazel she “started kissing me, kissing my fiancé.”

Hazel’s beating on the elevator at East Harlem’s Wagner Houses, was recorded by police department surveillance cameras last August, and led to the arrest of  Brian Freeman, 28. Hazel was taken from him and placed in a shelter then.

She had a cracked rib and bruises, but vets said she didn’t seem to have been subjected to prior abuse.

Freeman, who worked in a security job at a homeless shelter and was in college, entered a guilty plea last week to a reduced charge of misdemeanor trespassing. A  judge indicated he would sentence Freeman to term of 25 days community service at his sentencing on Feb. 5.

 (Photo: Brigitte Stelzer / New York Post)

Comments

Comment from smoketoomuch
Time January 21, 2013 at 3:02 pm

Great pic! That is one happy doggie! New loving parents, and a new Forever home, what more could an abused pup want?
Thanks for adopting her!

Comment from Barb
Time January 21, 2013 at 7:06 pm

This makes me sick. This big tough guy needs the same thing done to him. Poor little dog. He did nothing to deserve that treatment. I can’t believe all he is getting is 25 days of community service. If it was up to me I’d lock him up and throw away they key.
Thank goodness he has a new & loving home.

Comment from Caroline
Time January 21, 2013 at 10:08 pm

How the hell do you go from animal abuse and if you saw the video… to misdeameour trespassing? And 25 days community service is a disgrace

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