Swan found with darts in wing in Massapequa Preserve, SPCA says

The Nassau County SPCA is offering a $5,000 reward for... — The Nassau County SPCA is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest after a swan was found shot with darts in the Massapequa Preserve on Sunday, July 31, 2016. The darts were lodged in "the meaty part" of her wings and were able to be safely removed, authorities said. Credit: NCSPCA

By John Valentijohn.valenti@newsday.comAugust 1, 2016

It could’ve been her swan song.

Instead, authorities said, a swan found shot with darts Sunday morning in the Massapequa Preserve is expected to make a full recovery — though the person who shot her is now facing possible animal cruelty charges.

The Nassau County SPCA said the incident is believed to have taken place between 6 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. Sunday in the vicinity of the Kiwanis fishing bridge on Clark Avenue. The darts struck in “the meaty part” of the swan’s wings and were able to be safely removed, authorities said.

The SPCA is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in the case.

Anyone with information is being asked to call the Animal Cruelty Stoppers Hotline at 516-843-7722. All calls will remain confidential, the SPCA said.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”

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