A judge in Queens is set to decide on Wednesday who will get legal ownership of three dogs currently in the custody of the ASPCA. The dogs had been owned by Kristopher Fyffe who had been caught on camera duct-taping his dog’s mouth and eyes shut.
Fyffe was arrested in August 2025 on animal cruelty charges after a witness videoed him wrapping his dog’s muzzle and legs with thick black tape while at Gwen Ilfill Park in where authorities said he had planned to dump the dog and leave him for dead.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office press release, Kristopher Fyffe was charged with animal cruelty, menacing and other crimes, as well as keeping that dog and four others in unsanitary conditions in the back of a van.
When Fyffe was stopped, police officers allegedly reported the van contained five kennels, each with a pit bull inside. The kennels were allegedly covered in feces and urine; there was urine in the water bowls and no clean water or food. The dogs were seized and placed in the care of the ASPCA.
One of his dogs was later euthanized due to aggression. Fyffe surrendered another dog to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which has since been adopted to a loving home.
The hearing at the Queens Criminal Court could determine who takes legal ownership of the remaining three dogs that are currently in the care of the ASPCA. A recent rumor, however has angered animal lovers who have stated authorities had been considering returning the dogs to Fyffe.
New York City Second Chance Rescue posted the following:
Show up on January 28th and let @queensdakatz know that this monster should not get his dogs back!the group posted on Instagram.he ASPCA and the Queens District Attorney denied any intention to return the animals to their accused abuser.
Authorities however have agreed returning the dogs considering the allegations in the case is inappropriate and have denied that either the ASPCA nor the Queens District Attorney have any intentions of returning the dogs to their accused abuser.
Queens DA Melinda Katz’s office and the ASPCA continue their investigation into the legal ownership of the dogs and are awaiting a decision from the court.
If found guilty of all charges, Fyffe could face up to two years in prison.
Previous coverage here.
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