Canine survives violent attack

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly held a news conference on Dec. 28 to discuss the case of Cornell, a canine believed by members of the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter to be a terrier mix about 2 years old, who miraculously survived being stabbed 17 times over a month ago by an assailant who had not yet been identified.

Cornell was brought to the news conference, having made a speedy recovery from his injuries. Donnelly comforted him before she detailed his assault saying, “There’s too many people here, I know.”

Cornell was found by a woman on Washport avenue in Freeport on Nov. 27, and she took him to Bobbi and the Strays, a no-kill organization that looks for homes for “orphaned, stray, abused, and special needs cats and dogs,” according to its website. From there he was relocated to the Hempstead animal shelter, and then the Farmingdale veterinary hospital, where he was treated for the stab wounds, which had caused his lungs to leak air. The dog’s lungs were drained, and his other wounds were cleaned, stapled and sewn.

The question of how this all happened remained unanswered as the Herald went to press. “We need to know what happened to this dog,” Donnelly said. “We need to find out who did this to Cornell … people who commit crimes against animals can also be very dangerous to people.”

The district attorney added that she “takes these crimes very seriously,” reminding reporters that she served as Nassau County’s animal crimes prosecutor for over 10 years. “I’ve seen some horrible things done to innocent animals,” she said, “and I will not stand for it.”

Gary Rogers, of the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Corell’s attacker.

“We’re looking for a home for Cornell,” Donnelly said.

Asked what charges Cornell’s attacker could face, Donnelly noted a variety of misdemeanors, and possibly “felony aggravated cruelty to animals.” Any of his stab wounds, she said, could have killed him.

“Since (Cornell) came back from the vet, he’s been a little nervous,” Ashley Behrens, acting director of the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, said, but “once he knows you, he bonds with you.”

Behrens and the other shelter employees named the pooch after Chris Cornell, lead vocalist for the acclaimed Seattle rock band Soundgarden. “We tried to pick something unique,” Behrens said. “Because he’s a unique dog.”

Discussing the sort of home that would be ideal for Cornell, she said, “Definitely a quiet household where there’s not a lot of traffic.”

Cornell may have some pit bull in him, Behrens said, but is definitely a “75-pound mutt.” She added, “I don’t know how anyone can continue to hurt a dog.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Nassau County Animal Crimes Hotline, at (516) 571-7755, ext. 8.