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Puppy Doe Update: What You Can Do to Prevent Future Cases of Animal Cruelty

Puppy Doe’s call to action: see something, say something

In addition to continuing to support the on-going investigation and prosecution of the Puppy Doe case, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) has issued a call to action to the public to report suspected animal abuse to local authorities.

All too often, animal cruelty remains undiscovered. By many estimates, 4 out of 5 cases remain concealed, leaving animals to suffer in silence. Yet we can all give a voice to victims of animal cruelty if when we see something, we say something.

In the words of ARL’s president Mary Nee, “public awareness and people speaking up will be our strongest defense against future cases of animal cruelty.”

In the months since the news about her case first broke, many individuals and organizations have taken action related to Puppy Doe at their own initiative. We respect the right of individuals and businesses to express and pursue their ideas, whether it’s writing a book, selling a product, or producing a video. The ARL, however, has no involvement with any of these projects.

When we’re asked what people can do to channel the grief, sadness, and rage they feel about what happened to Puppy Doe, we suggest supporting an animal welfare organization.

Donate, volunteer, adopt a shelter pet….help them further the work they’re doing to help animals in need.

And most importantly, speak up and report suspicions of animal cruelty, neglect, and abuse to local authorities. If when you see something, you say something, you can make a tremendous difference.

Learn more about the signs of animal abuse and visit arlboston.org/take-action for more on what you can do to help animals recover from cruelty and neglect.

 

Winter Playtime Tips for You and Your Dog

Protect Your Pup from the Winter Weather

Winter is upon us and with it comes snow and freezing weather.  Just as people need to keep active, healthy, and—of course—warm in during these colder months, dogs need extra help as well.

To protect your pup in winter weather….

Keep your dog on leash in the snow and ice.  Dogs can easily lose their scent in the snow, so never let your dog off-leash during a snowstorm, or when there’s ice or snow on the ground.  If you’re walking near “frozen” ponds, lakes, or streams, remember ice is not always uniformly thick or stable, and your pup could fall through into frigid water if he or she is allowed to explore off-leash.

Wipe your dog’s paws AND stomach when he’s been outside in the snow or sleet. Sidewalks are often treated with rock salt, antifreeze, and other dangerous chemicals. Not only are these bad for your pet’s paws, but if ingested these chemicals are often poisonous. Make sure your pet does not lick his paws or stomach before you’ve wiped them down.

Prepare your pup for the elements. If your dog typically has a longer coat, let it grow for the winter. A longer coat provides more warmth and protection from colder temperatures. If your dog has a short coat, make sure to get him a coat or a sweater.  Just like you, he’ll enjoy the outdoors much more if he isn’t shivering.

Don’t leave your pet alone in a car during cold weather. Many dogs love a car ride to their favorite park or play area, just remember the warm temperatures inside your vehicle don’t stick around for very long once the engine is off.  As the thermometer plummets, your car can act like a refrigerator and your dog can freeze to death.

Pay attention to protein.  If your dog spends a lot of time outside, playing, running, or going for long walks, make sure he’s getting enough protein. Among other benefits, protein helps maintain a healthy coat.  And a coat in excellent condition will keep him nice and warm while he frolics in the snow!

While it’s not always easy to get excited about going outside in the freezing cold, nothing beats the winter blues like watching your dog plow through the fluffy stuff.   If your dog likes to play in the snow, go ahead and join him!

There’s probably nothing that he’d like better than to have his best friend (that’s you) play fetch in the snow or just run around with him—it’s great exercise and bonding for you both.

12-31 Wintertime Snow Play Tips_Photo

Photo: The Ski Channel

For more helpful tips about dog and cat health and behavior, visit arlboston.org/helpfultips

Rikki’s Story: Unique Dog Finds Best Friend

Not Every Pet is Perfect, But Every Pet Deserves the Perfect Home!

Several months ago, a little dog named Rikki arrived at our Dedham Adoption Center.  Though she had a deformity in her front legs, she certainly didn’t act like she did.  She moved and played, and was especially sweet.

And that’s what the family that adopted Rikki saw—an affectionate and playful pup who just thought she was like every other dog.

Here at the Animal Rescue League of Boston we treat every animal as an individual and we believe that every pet deserves a chance to experience love and human companionship. This video of Rikki and her person, Katherine, will inspire you – we can all learn something from this wise little girl!

Share this video with your friends, family, and all of your social networks.  Let’s make it go viral! It’s beautifully done and, above all else, a wonderfully happy story!

Please make a donation today to help animals like Rikki find the perfect match all year long.

Thank you to local videographers Twin Lens Media for producing this video of Rikki and Katherine.  And thank you t0 Rikki’s family for allowing us to share her story.

Animal Rescue League of Boston Shares Happy Update on Oliver Twist

Severely emaciated puppy discovered by kind FedEx driver is home for holidays

Boston, MA – This past April, a kind FedEx driver named Jeff called the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) after spotting a severely emaciated puppy shivering in the cold and wandering the streets along his delivery route.  The ARL’s Rescue Services Team immediately responded to the call, and were stunned by what they found.

“We could see his bones jutting through his skin,” describes Danielle Genter, senior rescue technician at the ARL. “When we found him, he just stumbled over to us.”

oliver4

When the ARL’s Rescue Service Team first saw Oliver Twist, they were stunned by his severely emaciated condition.

At the ARL’s Boston adoption center, the frail little pup received immediate medical attention along with the name Oliver Twist. On the Purina body condition scale a score of “9” is considered obese and “1” is extremely lean; Oliver scored less than 1. He was also diagnosed with a bacterial infection.

Over the next few weeks, Oliver’s condition stabilized. He was placed on a progressive re-feeding schedule and soon began to eat on his own. ARL veterinarians checked him daily to ensure that he was gaining the expected amount of weight and treated his infection. He also received lots of love and attention from adoption center staff.

The ARL’s Center for Animal Protection put out requests for information to identify who so severely neglected Oliver. To date, however, a suspect has not been found.

With special care and attention, Oliver was ready for a home just a few weeks after his rescue.   After seeing Oliver’ story on the news, Billie Jean Nebesky and her daughter felt an instant connection with him. “We knew he needed us and we needed him,” said Nebesky.

They adopted him at the end of April and happily report that today, he has made himself completely at home for the holidays.

Oliver twist with stick in new home

Today, Oliver Twist is happy and healthy. He especially loves to fetch sticks in the woods near his home.

“If we sit down in a chair, Oliver will immediately join you and cuddle,” smiles his new mom. “He clearly knows he is part of our family.”

About the Animal Rescue League of Boston

Founded in 1899, the Animal Rescue League of Boston is dedicated to rescuing domesticated animals and wildlife from suffering, cruelty, abandonment, and neglect. The ARL receives no government funding and relies solely on the generosity of supporters to help animals in need.
At the beginning of December, the ARL launched “Home for the Holidays,” a month-long community outreach campaign to encourage adoption and support for shelter animals. By featuring stories of animals rescued from cruel conditions, now recovered and living happy lives, as well as animals available for adoption, the ARL hopes to find more animals a home this holiday season.

Oliver Twist: One “Sweet Baby” Home for Holidays

The once frail puppy now specializes in fetching sticks in the woods

This is what poor little Oliver Twist looked like when our Senior Rescue Technician, Danielle, first brought him in.

This is what poor Oliver Twist looked like when our Rescue Team first brought him in.

One chilly morning in early this past April, Jeff, a driver for FedEx, was making deliveries in Boston when he discovered a beyond-skinny 6 month-old puppy wandering the streets and shivering in the cold. He immediately contacted the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL), and our Rescue Services Team went to work to find the dog.

The frail puppy stumbled over to the Rescue Team, he was so weak. His body was severely emaciated—lacking any fat and muscle, his bones jutted through his skin.  He was covered is his own urine and feces and had long overgrown nails.

At the ARL’s Boston adoption center, he received immediate medical attention along with the name, Oliver Twist.  On the Purina body condition scale a score of “9” is considered obese and “1” is extremely lean; Oliver scored less than 1. He was also diagnosed with a bacterial infection.

Over the next few weeks, Oliver’s condition stabilized. He was placed on a progressive re-feeding schedule and soon began to eat on his own. ARL veterinarians checked him daily to ensure that he was gaining the expected amount of weight and treated his infection. He also received lots of love and attention from adoption center staff.

Oliver Twist now getting love at home.

Oliver Twist now getting love at home.

Meanwhile, the ARL’s Center for Animal Protection put out requests for information to identify who severely neglected Oliver.  To date, a suspect has not been found.

With the special care and attention he received, Oliver was ready for a home just a few weeks after his rescue.  Well on his way to recovery, he had become a playful, loving puppy who adored attention from people.

And attention is what he gets from his new family! Grieving the loss of their 13-year-old boxer, Billie Jean Nebesky and her daughter saw Oliver’s story on the news.  They instantly felt a connection: “We knew he needed us and we needed him.”

Today, they happily report Oliver has made himself completely at home and loves to fetch big sticks in the woods.

“If we sit down in a chair, Oliver will immediately join you and cuddle,” smiles his new mom.  “He clearly knows he is part of our family.  He is handsome, smart, friendly and very affectionate. He is just a sweet baby!”

Everyone at the ARL is grateful for the outpouring of donations to assist Oliver Twist as he recovered from severe neglect.  Thanks to you, he is happy, healthy, and home for the holidays!

You can make a donation today to help animals at the ARL find loving homes, just like Oliver Twist did.

Littlest of the Middleboro Puppies Goes Home for the Holidays Today

ARL reports Babybel has recovered from cruel conditions and looking forward to romping in the snow 

Media Avail
1:30 PM, Friday, December 13, 2013
ARL’s Dedham Adoption Center
55 Anna’s Place, Dedham, MA

Dedham, MA –Life is looking very merry and bright indeed this holiday season for Babybel, the tiniest of the 13 puppies found jammed into a crate during a SWAT team raid at a home in Middleboro earlier in October.

The 5-week-old puppies were covered in filth, emaciated, and dehydrated, and according to the director of the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Boston’s Center for Animal Protection, Lt. Alan Borgal, they had clearly been living in cruel conditions.

baby bel then

Babybel, pictured above, remained under the care of a local veterinarian in the first few days after police discovered her jammed in a crate with her 12 siblings.

The local veterinarian who provided urgent care after their rescue described Babybel and her siblings as “little bone racks,” and reported they each weighed in at 2 pounds or less. He believed sickly Babybel wouldn’t have made it through another night if authorities hadn’t found her.

Too frail to travel, she remained under the care of the local veterinarian until she could join her siblings at the ARL’s adoption center in Dedham a few days later. Because she needed more one-on-one care to heal and develop physically and socially, Babybel went to a dedicated ARL foster volunteer to get the special attention and training she needed.

In just a few short weeks, Babybel has grown by leaps and bounds. Her foster mom provided details on her personality and habits so the staff at the Dedham adoption center could find her a safe and loving home.

Now recovered from cruel conditions, today Babybel goes home for the holidays with her new family.

To learn more about the Middleboro puppies rescue and recovery, visit arlboston.org/middleboro-puppies-are-home-for-the-holidays.

About the Animal Rescue League of Boston
Founded in 1899, the Animal Rescue League of Boston is dedicated to rescuing domesticated animals and wildlife from suffering, cruelty, abandonment, and neglect. The ARL receives no government funding and relies solely on the generosity of supporters to help animals in need.

The ARL launched “Home for the Holidays,” a month-long community outreach campaign in December to encourage adoption and support for shelter animals. By featuring stories of animals rescued from cruel conditions, now recovered and living happy lives, as well as animals available for adoption, the ARL hopes to find more animals a home this holiday season.

Middleboro Puppies are Home for the Holidays

Recovered from Cruel Conditions & Home for the Holidays

Tuukka, Franny, Timmy, Sammy, Grunt, Moose, Honey, Seamus, Bleu, Cheddar, Colby, Brie, and Babybel all have a home for the holidays. They will have the chance to romp in the snow for the first time and snuggle up next to their human companions when they come in from the cold.

Tuukka with his new family.

Tuukka with his new family.

Life is looking very merry and bright indeed for these happy pups.

Found jammed into a crate during a SWAT team raid at a home in Middleboro earlier in October, the thirteen 5-week old puppies were covered in filth, emaciated, and dehydrated.  According to the director of the ARL’s Center for Animal Protection, they had clearly been living in cruel conditions.

The local veterinarian who provided urgent care after their rescue described them as “little bone racks,” and reported they each weighed in at 2 pounds or less.  He believed the littlest one, tiny Babybel wouldn’t have made it through another night if authorities hadn’t found her.

Within 24 hours of their discovery, all but Babybel had checked into the three ARL adoption centers in Boston, Dedham, and Brewster.   Too sick to travel, she remained under the care of the local veterinarian until she could join her siblings a few days later.

At our adoption centers, each puppy received a thorough medical exam, vaccinations, and lab work.   They curled up with blankets and stuffed animals to rest, all warm and snug.

Bleu with his hew family.

Bleu with his hew family.

Because they needed more one-on-one care to heal and develop physically and socially, the puppies went to dedicated ARL foster volunteers to get the special attention and training they needed.  For the first time in their lives, they experienced love, compassion, and a positive bond with the people caring for them.

In just a few short weeks, the puppies had grown by leaps and bounds.  Their foster parents provided details on their personalities and habits so the adoption centers could match them with the right families.

All are now enjoying life with their families, looking forward to romping in the snow for the first time.

Tuukka’s family, for example, reports that “his days are filled with lots of snuggles, walks, car rides, and love and affection.”  Spoiled rotten (in a good way) with lots of toys and treats, he loves to sleep with his head on a pillow and the blanket over him.

Meanwhile, Tuukka’s sister Franny has a new big brother in her adoptive home to play with.  Her new mom says Franny is learning new things every day and adjusting to her new home wonderfully.

“We are so blessed to have the opportunity to give Franny a loving, forever home and have her be a part of our family/pack!!” –Franny’s new mom

Moose (with Mark Pirruccio of Brewster ), Seamus (with Marie of Orleans), Grunt (with Jayne of Brewster) and Honey Pot (with Lisa of Provincetown)

Moose (with Mark Pirruccio of Brewster ), Seamus (with Marie of Orleans), Grunt (with Jayne of Brewster) and Honey Pot (with Lisa of Provincetown)

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: Next Court Date Continued to 12/20

The Norfolk County District Attorney’s office announced that Quincy District Court has issued a continuance in the case of Puppy Doe, the young adult female dog found severely injured and starved near a park in  Quincy.   The Court continued proceeding to December 20.

Earlier this month, the suspect in the case was charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty.  He remains incarcerated as the investigation in the case continues.

Were it not for people expressing their concerns to authorities about the injuries Puppy Doe sustained, the world might never have known about one of the worst cases of animal abuse anyone at the ARL has ever seen.

Learn more about how you can give a voice to victims of animal cruelty by visiting arlboston.org/take-action

11-6 See something say something