SYRACUSE, NY – The man who abused a pit bull puppy so badly this summer that its jaw was nearly completely severed will spend the next six months behind bars.
Reginald Stepp, 35, of Milton Avenue, Syracuse, pleaded guilty last month to felony aggravated cruelty to animals. He was sentenced on Tuesday to six months in jail.
The puppy, Rockford, was rescued early this summer after Stepp came to Absolute Auto and Audio in Fulton to have his vehicle worked on.
Employees discovered the injured and emaciated dog in the vehicle and rescued him. Stepp voluntarily surrendered the animal.
Rockford’s jaw was hanging by just some skin and tissue, his rescuers said.
In July, Rockford went through five and a half hours of surgery.
Cornell surgeons installed plates and screws into both sides of his jaw; six on either side.
The dog is doing well and was adopted by one of his rescuers.
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