(Photo courtesy of the NY Daily News)  Oreo survived a six-story fall after her owner threw her off a roof.  A young Brooklyn man hurled his dog from the roof of a Brooklyn housing project - but the pooch miraculously survived the six-story plunge, officials said.

"It's just remarkable she survived that fall," Joseph Pentangelo of the ASPCA said of the 1-year-old terrier mix.

The heartless act happened June 18 at the Red Hook Houses and left Fabian Henderson's, 19, neighbors stunned.

"It gives me goose bumps," said a resident who would only give her first name, Elester.

The ASPCA initially received a complaint that an animal was being beaten on the third floor of 28 W. Ninth St., where Henderson lives with his family, Pentangelo said.

A few minutes later, the ASPCA got two more calls from people reporting a dog had been thrown off the roof.

ASPCA officers took Oreo to a nearby animal clinic, where she was stabilized. She was then transferred to an ASPCA hospital where veterinarians performed surgery to reconstruct her front legs using plates and screws.

Oreo is recovering under the care of the ASPCA, which owns the poor pup after Henderson relinquished his rights to her, Pentangelo said.

Henderson's mother, Samantha Henderson, 41, told the Daily News she's never seen the dog before and doesn't believe her son did it.  "I was surprised that he got arrested for that," she said, noting the family has a pit bull mix named Diamond. "He's basically a quiet person, good with animals."

But an ASPCA investigation revealed numerous witnesses saw Henderson toss Oreo off the roof, Pentangelo said.

After Henderson was arrested, he admitted he'd done it but refused to explain why, sources said. Henderson later changed his story and said the dog jumped, sources said.

Henderson's mother's claim that she has never seen Oreo before conflicts with a June 6 incident in which Henderson was arrested. A city housing cop spotted him walking an unleashed dog fitting Oreo's description, law enforcement sources said.

The officer collared Henderson after learning there was an unspecified warrant out for his arrest, the sources said.

Henderson, who is unemployed, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony punishable by up to two years in prison.

He was also charged with reckless endangerment, because the 45-pound Oreo could have hit a person down below, and criminal trespass, because the building's roof was off-limits, Pentangelo said.

Update 8/2/09:  The dog that amazingly survived being flung off the roof of a six-story Brooklyn housing project may owe her life to the building's air conditioners, law-enforcement sources revealed.

Oreo, a 1-year-old terrier mix, repeatedly struck the window units during her terrifying, 100- foot plunge on June 18 at the Red Hook Houses.

The series of collisions slowed her descent and, animal-welfare people believe, saved her life. Her front legs were shattered and she suffered internal injuries - but she's expected to recover.

Henderson pleaded not guilty to charges of animal cruelty, reckless endangerment and criminal trespass.

The complaint against Henderson also notes that Oreo's skin was infected around her stomach and armpits, suggesting he mistreated her before tossing off the roof.

He was being held last night on $50,000 bail.

Update 8/10/09:  Henderson was indicted on animal cruelty charges that could put him in prison for up to two years, said the Brooklyn district attorney, Charles J. Hynes.

Henderson, was arrested on July 31, more than a month after he threw the dog, Oreo, from the roof of the building, at 28 West Ninth Street in Red Hook, the police said. The dog survived the six-story fall but was severely injured.

Mr. Henderson is charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals and “overdriving, torturing and injuring animals,” according to the announcement. Because the New York City Housing Authority building does not permit tenants to use the roof, he also faces a third-degree criminal trespass charge.

ASPCA Surgery was performed to reconstruct her front legs using plates and screws.

  (Photo courtesy of the NY Daily News)   The dog, which was found on the ground by neighbors, suffered multiple fractures in her front legs as well as ligament damage, bruised lungs, a fractured rib, liver injury and internal bleeding. The dog was treated at two veterinary hospitals and is now under the care of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Anita Kelso Edson, a spokeswoman for the ASPCA, said in a statement:  Oreo remains at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital where veterinarians treated her shattered legs, bruised lungs and severe internal bleeding. Surgery was performed to reconstruct her front legs using plates and screws. She has a long road ahead of her before a decision will be made regarding adoption.

Update 11/16/09:  Sadly the NY ASPCA (the agency who was supposed to be her protectors) decided to euthanize Oreo despite nursing her back to health and having another animal rescue group willing to place her permanently.  Read the opinion-forum page about Oreo.

   (Photo courtesy of Hiroko Masike/The New York Times)  The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Oreo, a 1-year-old brown and white pit-bull mix, was put to death yesterday.

The ASPCA said it had determined, after working for months to rehabilitate Oreo, that she was too dangerous ever to be placed in a home or even to live among other dogs again.

Fabian Henderson, 19, pleaded guilty to a felony count of animal cruelty. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 1.

Reference:

New York Daily News

The New York Times

Examiner

New York Post