Appeal for help in fatal “Puppy Doe” dog torture case

Boston, MA–The Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Boston, Quincy Police Department and Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey are asking the public’s help in identifying the person responsible for a horrific case of animal torture.

“Puppy Doe,” the young adult female dog pictured in the photo above was found alive August 31, 2013, in the vicinity of Carrolls Lane in Quincy, near the Whitwell Street playground and the campus of Quincy Medical Center.

She weighed less than half what a normal, healthy dog of her size should. Due to the extent of her injuries, she could not be saved by veterinarians.

“We need anyone who knows who owned and abused this dog to contact authorities,” District Attorney Morrissey said.

“The injuries cataloged in the post-mortem examination are grotesque and indicate consistent starvation and abuse over an extended period of time,” Morrissey said. “It is highly unlikely that this level of sadistic cruelty could be shown to one animal and not be part of a pattern involving other animals or perhaps vulnerable people. We need to find the person who did this and see what else they are doing.”

“Words cannot adequately describe the shocking suffering that Puppy Doe endured or capture the urgency in identifying who did this to her,” explains Mary Nee, president of the ARL.

According to Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore, vice president of animal welfare at the ARL, who performed the necropsy, Puppy Doe was likely 1 to 2 years old. In addition to being starved and beaten on many occasions, causing fractures to the head and body, she appears to have undergone some kind of crude cutting to create a serpent-like split to her tongue. The dog had also been stabbed in the eye in the days prior to being found in Quincy.

“I spoke with Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan and we share a sense of urgency here, as does the Animal Rescue League,” District Attorney Morrissey said, adding that he has assigned a prosecutor with experience and training in animal cruelty cases to assist in the investigation.

“We do not have reason to believe or disbelieve that the dog was originally from Quincy before being found near the park,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “We are asking anyone from eastern Massachusetts to contact us if they believe they recognize this dog.”

“It is prudent to proceed as if the perpetrator or perpetrators have moved on and are now aiming this cruelty and violence at another target and needs to be stopped.”

Anyone with information about Puppy Doe should contact:

The Animal Rescue League of Boston
Law Enforcement Services
(617) 226-5610
cruelty@arlboston.org

Quincy Police Department
Det. Thomas Pepdjonovich
(617) 745-5774

 

**UPDATE: We have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support for Puppy Doe and the knowledge that so many of you share our sense of shock at the pain purposely inflicted on this young dog.

The ARL relies solely on donor support to pursue cases of animal cruelty and neglect like hers.  From the law enforcement services to the veterinary forensics involved, it is highly resource-intensive work.

If you would like to help us  remain ever-ready to answer the next call to assist in a case like Puppy Doe’s, please donate now.**