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Puppy Doe Update: Date Set for Suspect’s Next Court Appearance

Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey announced the arraignment of the suspect in the Puppy Doe abuse case  is scheduled for December 19 at 2 pm in Norfolk Superior Court.

Late last week, the Norfolk County Grand Jury handed down 12 indictments for animal abuse and one indictment for misleading police in the on-going investigation of the suspect.  Those indictments moved the case from Quincy District Court to Norfolk Superior Court.

As reported on Boston.com, the move from District to Superior Court means that if convicted, the suspect could face a sentence of up to 5 years per count in state prison.  District Court can only impose a maximum sentence of two and half years in a county House of Correction.

Like you, we will continue to closely follow criminal proceedings against the suspect.   To learn more about what you can do to prevent future case of animal abuse, visit arlboston.org/take-action.

Puppy Doe Update: Indictments Issued By Grand Jury

Yesterday, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey announced the Norfolk County Grand Jury handed down 12 indictments for animal abuse and one indictment for misleading police in the on-going investigation of the suspect in the Puppy Doe case.

“Today’s indictments move the existing case from the Quincy District Court to the Norfolk Superior Court,” District Attorney Morrissey also reported.

In Massachusetts, a District Court can only impose  a maximum sentence of two and a half years in a county House of Correction.  Previously, the District Attorney’s Office indicated each count of animal abuse carries a five-year prison term.

“Only a justice of the Superior Court can order longer terms to be served in a State Prison,” District Attorney Morrissey explained.

 Morrissey said that the suspect’s arraignment on these indictments in Norfolk Superior Court has not yet been scheduled, but that he expects it to be set before December 20, when the defendant would otherwise return to the Quincy District Court. “At the time of the Superior Court arraignment, the District Court case will be withdrawn as superseded.”

The suspect plead not guilty to multiple counts of animal cruelty and one count of misleading police investigators at his arraignment in late October in Quincy District Court.   At the arraignment, Judge Mark S. Coven ordered the suspect held on $500,000 cash bail.

Like you, we will continue to closely follow criminal proceedings against the suspect.   To learn more about what you can do to prevent future case of animal abuse, visit arlboston.org/take-action.

PUPPY DOE UPDATE: Quincy Police Department Announces Arrest of Suspect

Police to Host Press Conference Following Suspect’s Arraignment Tuesday Morning

At a press briefing this afternoon, Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan announced an arrest in the case of Puppy Doe, the young adult female dog found tortured, starved, and dumped near a park.

From the very beginning of the investigation into Puppy Doe’s abuse, we wanted the person responsible for this heinous crime to be found and brought to justice as quickly as possible.  The Quincy Police Department and the District Attorney shared our sense of urgency in identifying the perpetrator, and we want to thank both organizations for their diligence and continuous hard work in pursuit of justice for Puppy Doe.

For the safety of people and animals in our community, we feel a tremendous sense of relief that a suspect is now in custody.

The arrest comes after many weeks of dedicated and intensive investigation by the Quincy Police Department.  We look forward to attending the press conference tomorrow morning at Quincy Police Department headquarters following the arraignment of the suspect to share more details of the investigation.

BREAKING NEWS: 12 Puppies Seized in Middleboro SWAT Team Raid Come to ARL

Our focus: getting them healthy and ready for adoption

During a drug and weapons raid on a home in Middleboro, MA, on Wednesday morning, police found 17 pit bulls–4 adults and 13 puppies–jammed into a small crate.  All the dogs were emaciated and dehydrated; the puppies covered in feces and riddled with worms.

The local veterinarian who provided urgent care to the puppies described them as “little bone racks,” and believes at least one of the puppies wouldn’t have made it through another night if authorities hadn’t found him.

Middleboro Animal Control contacted the Animal Rescue League of Boston for help, and all but one of the rescued pups checked into the three ARL adoption centers in Boston, Dedham, and Brewster.  The one puppy too sick to travel remained under the care of the local vet. (UPDATE: Once this puppy was healthy enough she was brought to the ARL and placed in our foster program. We call her Baby Bell.)

As widely reported in the media, the puppies had clearly been living in cruel conditions.

Lt. Alan Borgal, director of the ARL’s Center for Animal Protection, suspects the dogs’ previous owner, now under arrest, had a side-business selling dogs: “I think this was a case of a ‘backyard breeder’–an individual who’s not professional breeder and just trying to make a quick buck.  They don’t put a lot of care into the animal.”

Over the next few weeks, care-givers at the ARL’s adoption centers will focus on getting the pups healthy and ready for adoption.   In spite of their rough start on life, these little guys and gals are snugly, playful, and sweet-as-can-be.

We will keep you posted on their progress and when they will be ready for adoption!

 

$5K Reward for Information Leading to Prosecution in Puppy Doe Case

(photo provided by Animal Rescue League of Boston)

Boston, MA–The Animal Rescue League of Boston will offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of the perpetrator in the “Puppy Doe” fatal dog torture case.

“We have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support from people all over the U.S. , looking to help us identify who inflicted such pain and suffering on Puppy Doe,” said Mary Nee, president of the ARL.

The ARL has established a dedicated website to take donations for the reward.

Yesterday, the ARL, Quincy Police Department, and Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey released a public appeal for help identifying who owned and abused “Puppy Doe,” a young adult female dog pictured in the photo above.

When she was found in Quincy, MA, 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.

The ARL has received hundreds of phone calls and has received a little over $2500 in donations to support law enforcement efforts on behalf of Puppy Doe and others like her.

In 2012, the ARL assisted in over 1500 cases of animal cruelty and neglect across Massachusetts.  Any funds donated in excess of the $5000 reward will go directly towards preventing future cases of animal suffering, cruelty, and neglect.

Anyone with information about Puppy Doe should contact:

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