Saugus Woman To Face Animal Cruelty Charges After Dog Dies At Revere Beach
REVERE (CBS) -- The investigation into a dog's death continues after a woman allegedly abused the animal before it died at Revere Beach Sunday.
According to State Police, the woman said she took her small Chihuahua into the water when "he suddenly became stricken and apparently drowned." After the woman left the beach with the dog's body, multiple beach-goers came forward and told State Police they saw her beat the dog before his death.
Since the woman was already gone, State Police said they plan to summons her for various animal cruelty charges. The woman, a 57-year-old from Saugus, has not been publicly identified.
Witnesses told the WBZ-TV I-Team otherwise, though.
Bobby White said the woman was 20 feet away as he spoke to troopers about the alleged abuse. "The lady intentionally drowned the dog," White said.
"Troopers, working with the law enforcement division of the Animal Rescue League, this morning were able to retrieve the dog's body from the co-owner, a Chelsea man," State Police added.
George Rotondo Jr., a City Councilor who was at the beach, tried to help the lifeguards save the dog but it was too late. "I've been an ICU nurse for 25 years. This is an animal and I get that but it's not right. It's not right at all," Rotondo said. "She probably should have been put in jail. If you can do that to an animal, you can do that to a kid."
A clerk at Chelsea District Court said it could be months before she faces a judge.