Detectives from the Suffolk County SPCA charged a Kings Park woman with animal cruelty and abandonment charges.
Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk SPCA, said that its detectives charged Hanchao Zhang, 37, on misdemeanor animal cruelty; alleging that she abandoned her male one year old labrador mix puppy named Cola at Sunken Meadow State Park on April 14th, 2025. Detectives from the Suffolk County SPCA interviewed New York State Park Rangers who discovered the dog after being abandoned without food, water, or shelter in a semi wooded area of the park. A passerby had alerted Rangers to the dog at large without a collar. The dog was transported to the Smithtown Animal Shelter unharmed where Cola will be up for adoption shortly.
With the cooperation of the New York State Park Police, New York State Park Rangers, and Smithtown Animal Control Officers, a thorough investigation resulted in an arrest. On Tuesday, April 15th, Zhang surrendered at the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct where she was booked by SPCA Detectives. Zhang was charged with Abandonment and Animal Cruelty; she is due in Suffolk County First District Court on May 5th at 9:00AM.
The Suffolk County SPCA remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all animals in the county. If you witness any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in Suffolk County, please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-7722.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.