Philadelphia Police Officer Arrested for Leaving his Pit Bull in a Trash Bag to Die in Park

On November 23rd, an extremely emaciated pit bull was found in a trash bag in Wissahickon Valley Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   Mikel Long of the 8200 block of Michener Avenue, a police officer, was arrested today for animal cruelty in connection with the pit bull later named Cranberry.  Update: Long is out of jail and will have to appear in court April 24th. 

Long,  a West Philadelphia police officer for the past 11 years in the 18 the district, has been charged with two misdemeanors for animal cruelty, one misdemeanor for possession of an instrument of a crime and one summary charge of animal cruelty.

The news is especially shocking to Jimmy Huntley, the man who adopted Cranberry in December.  Cranberry has made a full recovery and has been safe since she was found by a hiker and her dog last fall. According to Huntley,  Cranberry sleeps from 8 PM through 7 AM.    Despite the magnitude of her abuse, she loves all humans and all dogs and shows no harm in her day-to-day actions,  Huntley states.

Cranberry’s microchip led them to Long which shows he adopted her in August after finding her while working his beat.

Cranberry was given medical care at the Pennsylvania SPCA until her adoption.    I had been informed  the PSPCA did know who was responsible for Cranberry but not sure why they waited until now to make the announcement of Long’s arrest.

Long is suspended for 30 days and will be dismissed by the Philadelphia Police Department.

Long had another pit bull in January 2015.    Her name is Sasha and she was 4 months old at the time of her photo.    Long had written the caption alongside the photo as “thought I had a vicious pit bull #spoiled.”    How he could treat one pit bull with what seems love and another like trash is incomprehensible.

Image of “Sasha” taken from Mikel Long’s facebook page

I can’t begin to imagine the ordeal Cranberry endured left alone in a wooded park tied up in a trash bag.  She ripped the bag open to get her head through it.  She was so weak when found she was unable to walk.  The remote area in which she was located is off the beaten path for most hikers.  For whatever reason, the woman who found her took a different route that fateful day last November.   She, her dog, and the Pennsylvania SPCA saved her life.    I paid my respects to Cranberry by driving to the park where was left to die.   I, among many others, am so relieved and overjoyed this poor creature has recovered completely and is in a loving home.    I am left speechless to know a police officer whose job it is to protect lives could do the unimaginable to his own dog.

I was told Long was unable to afford her care and his response was to get rid of her in this heinous manner.    Common sense would dictate to return her to the place where he adopted her.   I see a lack of discernment when it comes to animals.   Animals feel pain and emotions.    They suffer like humans.   Cranberry is a living, breathing being.   This alone should have influenced the police officer in his decision to not dispose of her like trash.   Sadly, it didn’t.   If people can’t see the value in animals, how do we convince them not to ignore or abuse them like Cranberry was?   Animals lives do matter.

“This arrest today is the culmination of an investigation conducted by our officers and the Philadelphia Police Internal Affairs Unit,” said Nicole Wilson Director of Humane Law Enforcement. “We look forward to the opportunity to see justice through the courts in this matter.”

Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer and animal advocate.   She hosts the show,  ” A Close-Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.”      Have a story, please email Tina at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.  Like my tv page at https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com for all the tv shows you may have missed!