Friday, December 27, 2019
Vol. 79, No. 52
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SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW
BREAKING NEW GROUND
ASPCA seizes nine sick puppies from van in Hicksville BY GARY SIMEONE
Golden shovels and hard hats were given to the District’s leaders as they officially broke ground on the new aquatic center. On December 12, Hicksville Public School District broke ground to begin construction on its new Aquatic Center located at Hicksville High School. The project is part of the 2017 Bond Vote that will allow the District to cre-
ate 21st century programs and facilities. The Aquatic Center will add instructional opportunities and extracurricular activities for our students and connect the school to our community by offering open swim times for senior citizen resi-
dents. The Center will be comprised of a 6-lane, 25-meter indoor swimming pool, locker facilities for student-athletes, and a lobby for guests. Additional parking and traffic flow improvements will be made to facilitate accessibility.
Meeting on Hicksville downtown The Nassau County Department of Public Works has scheduled a public meeting for Monday, January 6 to hear recommendations for traffic and pedestrian
safety improvements within the Hicksville downtown area. The public will have an opportunity to comment and ask questions. The meeting will take
place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hicksville Community Center, 28 West Carl Street, Hicksville.
An undercover investigation led to the seizure of nine puppies from a cargo van parked in the back of the Shake A Paw pet store in Hicksville on Wednesday. The investigation is part of an ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) sweep into the pipeline of sick animals being transported from out of state for sale on Long Island. All of the puppies rescued were deemed sick by an onsite veterinarian and in need of immediate medical attention. Gary Rogers, Nassau County SPCA Board president, said his organization had gotten wind of the operation and found out the deliveries were going to take place at 12 noon on Wednesday at that particular location. “We had developed intelligence about the operation that the deliveries were going to take place at this site at that particular time,” said Rogers. “We also have other locations out there that are currently under surveillance. These animals are being shipped to Nassau County on a regular basis.” Rogers added that the pet store was not part of the investigation and that no action would be taken against them. All of the puppies that were taken from the van have tested positive for one or more contagious diseases and are currently in isolation in a nearby animal hospital. Rogers said that the cramped conditions the puppies were left in and the long distances they’re being driven take a toll on their health. "They’re traveling in these cargo vans for long distances and being stored in close proximity four to five dogs a crate so sickness can easily spread," said Rogers. The puppies that were rescued were multiple breeds, including Maltese Yorkie, a Golden Retriever and a Labrador. Officials from the SPCA said that there were dozens of other animals stored inside of the van that had been probably been exposed to illness. The animals were en route to be sold to other pet stores in the area. “At this point in time, we are waiting to see what transpires with the investigation before making a decision on what to do with the animals,” said Rogers. He said that he knows it’s the holiday season and a lot of people are buying pets as gifts, but that people should be smart and take the animals to a veterinarian before purchasing them. “We don’t want to see any sad faces, so people should take the animals to the vet before buying them to make sure they’re in good health.” To donate to the medical care for the puppies currently housed in isolation, visit the Nassau County SPCA site nassaucountyspca.org
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