Owner charged after Chihuahuas Tonto and Freddy ingest cocaine and fentanyl, SPCA says

A Port Jefferson Station man faces charges Friday after authorities said his dogs — 15-week-old Chihuahuas named Tonto and Freddy — were suffering from the ingestion of cocaine and fentanyl.

The Suffolk County SPCA said that it responded Thursday to an animal hospital that reviewed a toxicology report which showed the puppies tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl, said agency chief Roy Gross.

He said the dogs showed symptoms of a possible overdose, reported by an animal hospital after the dogs appeared "severely lethargic," limp and were whimpering with slowed breathing, Gross said.

Veterinarians suspected the dogs may have ingested narcotics and administered Narcan to revive them, Gross said.

The SPCA was notified under a state law that mandates reporting of possible animal cruelty, Gross said. 

Charging documents show that the dogs' owner Adam Dziomba, 53, first took Freddy to an animal hospital in Selden on May 6, where he tested positive for cocaine. The following day, Dziomba took both pets to a West Islip veterinary hospital where Tonto tested positive for cocaine while Freddy tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl, records show.

On June 14, Dziomba again brought Tonto to the Selden animal hospital, where he tested positive for cocaine, charging documents state.

The dogs were transferred to a holding facility where they appeared to be fine, Gross said Friday.

"They certainly could have died and thank goodness they were saved," Gross said. 

Dziomba was charged with two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

He was due for arraignment Friday in First District Court in Central Islip. It was not immediately clear if Dziomba is represented by counsel. Arraignment information was not available online as of Friday evening.

He faces up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine on each count, Gross said. 

"Animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Suffolk County," Gross said.

Records show Dziomba was previously arrested in March on a charge of second-degree menacing with a weapon. A temporary order of protection was issued in the case and Dziomba was released on his own recognizance.

Matthew Tuohy, his Huntington-based attorney in the menacing case, did not return a call for comment Friday.

Authorities were not sure how the dogs accessed the drugs, but Gross said it served as a reminder to keep harmful materials out of reach of animals just like with children. 

"People need to safeguard their animals, just as you would not leave a loaded gun around children or leaving out drugs where children or animals can get ahold of them," Gross said. "These drugs could cause an overdose or kill them. It's similar to people in the way they react. … These were small puppies."

Authorities ask that anyone who witnesses any kind of animal cruelty or neglect report it to the Suffolk SPCA at 631-382-7722.