GREENE – A second decision rendered Monday by a Greene judge has reduced the number of charges against a 56-year-old Brooklyn man from whom 76 dogs were seized in October.

In the ruling, Town of Greene Justice Dante Acunto “dismissed without prejudice” 77 of the pending criminal charges against Steven W. Fong. The decision was made in response to a motion filed Nov. 4 by attorney Scott Clippinger in November on Fong’s behalf.

Fong was arrested on Oct. 13, one day after Chenango County Sheriff’s Deputies executed a search warrant on a property he owned in the Town of Oxford. The warrant resulted in the seizure of 76 Pomeranians, which were brought to the Chenango County SPCA for medical attention and care. The remains of 38 additional dogs were also taken into evidence at that time.

The charges dropped included 76 counts of failure to provide for an impounded animal and one count of false impersonation. Acunto denied Clippinger’s motion to dismiss the 38 counts of cruelty to animals related to the remains of the dead dogs.

Not addressed by Acunto’s latest ruling is an additional count of cruelty to animals brought against Fong for the 76 Pomeranians. Fong was arraigned on the additional charge on Dec. 8 in the Town of Oxford Judge John Weidman. The action was the last taken by Weidman before he asked to be recused from the case.

District Attorney Joseph McBride has made clear his intention of prosecuting Fong on the remaining charges.