STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Bay Terrace woman accused of maliciously harming and disposing of her helpless puppy later bought a new dog for her daughter, police said.

"She tossed Snowflake like garbage and threw [the dog] out the window, then went out and bought a new puppy," the prosecution alleged during Alsu Ivanchenko's arraignment in Criminal Court in Stapleton Wednesday evening. "The defendant has no remorse and no respect for that dog."

According to the criminal complaint, Ms. Ivanchenko told police, "Just give me my misdemeanor so I can get out of here. It's just a dog."

Ms. Ivancheko, 34, allegedly admitted in court documents that she couldn't afford medical treatment for the 3-month-old Maltese-Shih Tzu mix, who she named Snowflake, so she put the little dog in a bag and threw the injured animal from her car onto the side of the road in Bay Terrace on Friday.

The dog was renamed Charlotte after being rescued Friday.

"I was afraid for my daughter to get upset, so I got her a new dog," Ms. Ivanchenko says in the criminal complaint.

But during court proceedings Wednesday, Ms. Ivanchenko's lawyer told the judge that the defendant denies she purchased a new puppy.

"She does feel remorse," the defense attorney told the court.

Ms. Ivanchenko, police said, intentionally injured the animal and abandoned its body beside Bay Terrace Boulevard, at the corner of Hopkins Avenue and South Railroad Avenue.

Dr. Robert Reisman of the ASPCA said he examined Charlotte and determined she had a fractured skull, a fractured femur and brain trauma resulting from blunt force impact, according to court documents.

The prosecution asked for $20,000 bail, and said Ms. Ivanchenko is unemployed and her house is in foreclosure.

Judge Alan J. Meyer set bail at $3,500.

A man who identified himself as Ms. Ivanchenko's friend was attempting to get the cash to bail her out, but it was not clear if she made bail. He declined comment for the story.

Ms. Ivanchenko's attorney also declined comment.

She is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and misdemeanor counts of torturing and injuring animals and abandonment. If convicted on the top count, she faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison.



Ms. Ivanchenko is scheduled to return to court Sept. 22.