Queens man accused of beating his Boston Terrier puppy to death: ‘Your heart hurts’

Prosecutors said Tuesday that the owner of a sadistic dog from Queens severely beat his Boston Terrier puppy several times before he died from his brutal injuries.

Paul Verita faces multiple animal cruelty and abuse charges for alleged violent attacks on his puppy Espy between September and November of the dog’s death. When the 10-week-old dog died, an autopsy showed that 21 of its 26 ribs had been broken, and authorities reported signs of head trauma.

“These injuries left Espy in excruciating pain before dying,” Queens prosecutors said Tuesday.

According to Queens prosecutors, the puppy was so badly injured that he was unable to walk or stand before dying, and Espy was eventually killed in a seizure caused by a head injury.

“When you see how a gullible, defenseless creature abused this puppy during his short, tormented life, it breaks my heart,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “The accused will be held accountable for the violence he is alleged to have inflicted on this unfortunate animal.”

In the fall, Verite, 49, repeatedly took his puppy to the Austin veterinary clinic and Blue Pearl Animal Hospital for treatment for a number of injuries, including a torn toenail, a bruised head and a suspected head injury. Prosecutors said Verite was unable to explain to veterinarians how the dog sustained such serious injuries.

“The hospital is lying,” Believe told the Daily News on Tuesday from his Forest Hills home. “I am being falsely accused.”

During the dog’s last visit, Espy was taken from the Austin veterinary clinic to the Blue Pearl Animal Hospital in critical condition. Saying that she was not sure that the operation would be successful, Verite decided to euthanize Espy.

Believe said it was his first dog.

“My father died of lung cancer in April, so I got a dog as an emotional support animal,” he told The News. “The dog hit its head about a month and a half ago. I held him and he fell.”

An autopsy revealed that Espy was regularly beaten and suffered from “multiple blunt force trauma prior to her death,” investigators noted. More than half of her ribs were broken in more than one place and were in various stages of healing.

Investigators arrested Verite on 6 February. He was given an appearance report and returned to court on Monday when criminal charges were brought against him. He was released without bail and is due back in court in April.

He faces up to two years in prison if found guilty.