Sixth Dog Dies In Animal Cruelty Case

Utica, NY (WIBX) - A sixth dog has now died in the animal neglect case involving a Utica man.

22 year old Umar Aziz is facing nearly two dozen charges after Utica Police say they found several dead and extremely malnourished dogs and puppies at a home on Whitesboro Street on Tuesday.

Aziz is charged with 8 counts of animal cruelty, 8 counts of keeping dogs in unsanitary conditions, three counts of harboring an unlicensed dog and three counts of harboring an unvaccinated dog.

Police say there were a total of eight dogs found at the apartment, which had apparently been abandoned.

Three of the dogs were found dead and another died later Tuesday at the Burrstone Road Animal Hospital.

A fifth dog died yesterday.

Aziz plead not guilty to the charges in court on Thursday and is currently being behind bars for unrelated charges.

He is due back in court on April 19.

(Story By Jennifer Rickard, WIBX)