Police charged a Wyandanch man with animal cruelty Tuesday after he brought his dog -- covered in feces, maggots and 6 pounds of matted hair -- to the vet for euthanasia.
The New York Veterinary Specialty Center in Farmingdale says the 8-year-old dog, Fluffy, was in such bad shape she couldn't walk. She also had a deep cut on one of her hind legs.
"In all my years, I've never seen it that bad," says Dr. Arnold Lesser, a vet at the clinic.
The Suffolk SPCA says 61-year-old Hakim El-Quhir's dog was severely neglected.
"This is not a condition that could have possibly happened in a month, two months or even three months," says Jennifer Pape, of the Suffolk SPCA. "This was a very long duration of time. This dog was neglected."
Veterinary staff had to shave off all of Fluffy's hair before they could begin treating her. But officials say the dog is expected to make a full recovery.
They say El-Quhir could face jail time if convicted.
"Animal cruelty will not be tolerated," Pape says.