10
COURIER LIFE, APRIL 15-21, 2022
BY BEN BRACHFELD
More than two dozen dogs
were rescued on April 7 from a
hellish prison within a Bedford-
Stuyvesant building, where the
pups were kept in small cages,
forced to stand and sleep in their
own feces and urine, and denied
proper sustenance.
The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(ASPCA) and the NYPD’s 79th
Precinct removed the 27 captive
canines from the Kent Avenue
flophouse on Thursday, finding
them trapped in crates in the
backyard and poorly-lit, poorlyventilated
basement smelling of
ammonia, and covered in their
own waste. One dog died owing
to its severe neglect.
Cops arrested Jason Nunez,
27, and charged him with one
count of aggravated animal cruelty,
28 counts of neglect of impounded
animals, and 28 counts
of failing to provide sustenance
to animals; he was released on
a desk appearance ticket without
bail, a police spokesperson
said. The Daily News reports
that Nunez was arrested again
shortly afterwards on Thursday
after threatening to pepper spray
a female work colleague.
It remains unclear exactly
why all the dogs were in Nunez’s
“care;” the incident remains under
investigation, and the Brooklyn
District Attorney’s office is
prosecuting the case.
“We have no tolerance for
animal neglect in Brooklyn and
I’m grateful to our partners at
the ASPCA and the NYPD for
their hard work rescuing these
dog victims from the allegedly
squalid conditions where they
suffered in cramped cages without
food or clean water,” said
Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez in
a statement. “Animals cannot
speak for themselves and our Animal
Crimes Unit is committed to
seeking justice for the innocent
dogs who suffered because of the
alleged neglectful and inhumane
conduct of this defendant.”
The ASPCA took the pups
into their care and are currently
providing veterinary and behavioral
treatment as they recover
from their traumatic ordeal.
Many of the pooches were suffering
from severe malnourishment
and dehydration, the ASPCA
says. They were also suffering
from a variety of untreated ailments
including open wounds and
ear infections. Some of their coats
were stained with feces and urine.
“Upon arriving at the property,
it was clear these animals
needed to be immediately removed
from the filthy environment
where they were living so
they could receive much-needed
medical treatment and care,”
said David Little of the ASPCA.
“The ASPCA is grateful to be in a
position where we could quickly
mobilize when we learned our
partners at the NYPD needed our
assistance with their immediate
rescue, and we thank the NYPD
and Brooklyn District Attorney’s
Office for prioritizing animal
welfare in New York City.”
The dogs will remain under
the ASPCA’s care until further
notice, receiving medical care,
sanitary living conditions, and
love and support as they recover
from their captivity, hopefully to
one day find a loving home.
A dog receives medical care after being rescued from horrific squalor in Bedford
Stuyvesant. ASPCA
RESCUED!
27 dogs saved from horrific
conditions in Bed-Stuy
By Camille Sperrazza
There are lots of ways to
throw a memorable party – but
perhaps nothing is more important
than the cake.
It not only has to taste delicious,
it has to look good, and reflect
the party’s theme.
Aniya Reed, owner of CreativeCakeBar,
knows this, and
it is why she goes above and beyond
to provide excellent customer
service to her clients. “I’m
always open to new ideas, and am
ready for a challenge,” she says.
Listening to what clients want is
part of the job, and she is happy
to accommodate them.
Her creations include cakes
for every occasion, cookies, ice
cream treats, cake pops, and Rice
Krispy treats. She specializes
in children’s cakes, concentrating
on vibrant colors that often
match the party’s theme. She can
include cartoon characters from
Paw Patrol, Sesame Street, and
other children’s favorites, too.
Whether it’s a party for kids
or adults, the objective is to create
memories that will remain
with guests, long after the merrymaking
ends. “It’s all about making
people happy,” Reed says –
and that’s what she aims to do.
She has recently ventured into
“sculpturing” cakes. These creations
may look like a toy, a ball,
or a car, with details that are so
realistic, people are sometimes
surprised to discover it is a delicious
dessert. An example can be
found at CreativeCakeBar’s Instagram
page. Reed made an incredible
cake that looks like two
bowls of cereal - Fruity Pebbles
and Captain Crunch. Imagine
the delight when a cereal bowl
this realistic is “cut.” Guests will
be talking about the excitement
for a long time to come.
Reed always loved to bake,
and has a certificate in Baking
and Cake Decorating from Hostos
Community College in the
Bronx. Before starting her own
business, she would use those
skills to create cupcakes for her
daughter to bring to school. One
time she baked cupcakes for
Black History Month, featuring
Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet
Tubman. Other mothers, so
impressed with her creations,
began requesting that Reed bake
for them. And so she did. Soon
she was doing so for lots of family
and friends.
Word of mouth continued to
spread, and in 2017, she starting
selling her cakes. By 2019,
she was baking constantly. She
continues to gain new business
through referrals and also
through social media posts. Her
scrumptious creations can be
found on CreativeCakeBar’s Facebook
and Instagram pages.
Reed devotes 5-6 days a week
to her craft, creating cakes for
large and small parties. She has
taken orders for Easter and other
occasions, and she has created
3-tier wedding cakes that feed 80
people.
Pricing varies, depending on
what she is baking, but a fondant
cake for 10-15 people starts at
$250. A buttercream cake for the
same amount of people starts at
$220.
Cakes may be picked up. Deliveries
are made by request.
CreativeCakeBars 80 E. 93
Street in Flatbush, (929) 230-
0743. Open Mondays – Fridays,
10 am – 5 pm.
B ROOK LY N Bu s i N e s s pROf i L e
Custom creative cakes created to perfection