Yonkers Resident Pleaded Guilty to Animal Cruelty
A local pet owner faces sentencing for the abandonment and severe neglect of a young mastiff mix.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Pet Health
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Anita Martin has pleaded guilty to charges including overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals after abandoning a 1-year-old mastiff named Frankie. The dog was discovered at Saint John's Cemetery in Yonkers suffering from severe, infected wounds.
Why it matters
This case highlights the legal consequences for animal mistreatment within the community, involving mandated restitution and inclusion in the Animal Abuse Registry. The incident underscores the severe impact of neglect on vulnerable animals that rely on human care.
Anita Martin faces a sentencing mandate of $1,618.50 in restitution and three years of probation. The rescued dog suffered from a 22-centimeter long and 4-centimeter deep neck wound that required extensive surgical intervention.
The players
Anita Martin
A Yonkers resident who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges involving the abandonment of a pet.
Frankie
A 1-year-old mastiff mix who suffered from severe neglect and abandonment.
The details
After being left tied to a gate at Saint John's Cemetery without food or water for over three hours, the emaciated dog was discovered by a good Samaritan. The animal required a two-hour surgical procedure to treat a deep, infected neck wound that had exposed underlying tissue. Local law enforcement took action following the discovery, leading to the formal charges against Martin.
Timeline
Nov. 21: The dog was abandoned at Saint John's Cemetery.
Jan. 13, 2027: Anita Martin is scheduled to be sentenced.
The Home Front
This case follows a pattern of local enforcement regarding pet welfare and mandatory inclusion in the Animal Abuse Registry. Such legal outcomes reinforce community standards for animal guardianship and the consequences of violating local humane laws.
If you witness an animal in distress or abandoned in a public space, contact local authorities or animal control immediately to ensure the animal receives professional medical attention. Keep the contact information for your local animal welfare agency stored with your household emergency numbers.
The takeaway
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the legal and ethical responsibilities involved in pet ownership. Residents should keep the local animal control contact information on file to help prevent and report similar cases of animal distress in their neighborhoods.
What happens next
Anita Martin is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 13, 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local standards for animal welfare in Pet Health.
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