Defendant Sentenced for Killing Dog

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Emery S. Kawski, 21, formerly of City of Tonawanda, was sentenced on Monday morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case to five years of probation.

On the evening of Monday, February 24, 2025, the defendant intentionally stabbed a dog inside of his residence in the City of Tonawanda. Police found the deceased dog inside of a garbage tote outside a nearby home. A necropsy determined that "Pop Rocks," an approximately four-year-old male Boston Terrier, died from multiple sharp-force trauma wounds to his abdomen. Analysis of a knife, recovered from the kitchen sink of the defendant's home, tested positive for canine blood.

In March 2026, Kawski pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (Class E felony under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law). Kawski entered a guilty plea to the highest sustainable charge and sole count of the indictment.

As part of the sentencing proceeding, our prosecutor requested that the court impose a lifetime securing order to prohibit the defendant from owning, harboring, or having custody or control of any animals. Judge Case granted the request.

DA Keane commends the City of Tonawanda Police Department, City of Tonawanda Dog Control, Officers Lindsey Wood and Meghan Giles of the SPCA Serving Erie County, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Erie County Central Police Service Forensic Laboratory for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Megan E. Mahoney of the Animal Cruelty Unit.