A Mercer County grand jury returned a second indictment charging Birch Avenue resident Michael G. Rosenberg with animal cruelty last Tuesday.

At the time of the alleged incidents, the 31-year-old man was working as a dog trainer from his home. He has been charged with two counts of fourth-degree animal cruelty, crimes that carry a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.

It is alleged that Mr. Rosenberg “purposely, knowingly, or recklessly, tormented, tortured, or unnecessarily or cruelly beat his own mixed breed dogs, Kaiser and Sanford” on diverse dates between February through August 2012.

According to the complaints signed by Princeton Animal Control Officer Mark Johnson in January, Mr. Rosenberg repeatedly picked his dogs up and threw them across the room, slamming them onto a concrete floor. The dogs have since been removed from Mr. Rosenberg’s care.

Last year Mr. Rosenberg was charged with causing the death of a three-year old female German Shepherd mix named Shyanne, left in his care for training by its owner Lawrence resident Tracy Stanton, an attorney working in Manhattan.

Two days after Ms. Stanton left her dog with Mr. Rosenberg, he called her to say that the dog was in need of veterinary attention. He then called again suggesting she come and pick up her dog immediately. Shortly thereafter, the dog was found unresponsive but still breathing on the front porch of Mr. Rosenberg’s residence. Shyanne died before arriving at the emergency vet hospital. Results of a necropsy showed that the dog had four broken ribs and a punctured lung.

According to the complaints signed by Mr. Johnson, Mr. Rosenberg hit Shyanne with a crop, slammed her to the ground, jabbed his fingers into her ribs, and failed to seek medical attention for her injuries.

At that time Mr. Johnson commented that in all his 19 years on the job, he had never seen a dog so cruelly treated that it had died of its injuries.

For this incident, Mr. Rosenberg was indicted on one count of third-degree animal cruelty, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in state prison and a $15,000 fine.

Mr. Rosenberg was scheduled to appear in Mercer County Superior Court for a status conference yesterday, Tuesday June 24, but this was rescheduled for July 12, at which time both indictments against Mr. Rosenberg will be considered.