2 Southbridge residents charged after allegedly drugging, choking elderly dog to death
Beau the dog was 12 years old when he died.
Two Southbridge residents are facing animal cruelty charges after one allegedly drugged their elderly dog and the other then strangled it.Ryan Fisher, 41, and Jacqueline Baldina, 58, both of 423 Morris St., were arrested on warrants. Baldina has since been released on $540 cash bail, while Fisher remained in the Worcester County House of Correction on $2,500 cash bail; he was already out on bail relating to another criminal incident.Back on Aug. 15, Southbridge police received a tip that a man, later identified as Fisher, had posted on Facebook that he had “choked his dog to sleep because sleeping pills didn’t work,” police said in a press release posted to Facebook.Southbridge’s animal control officer then began an investigation alongside the Animal Rescue League of Boston.Authorities went to Baldina and Fisher’s address, and, during an interview, Baldina reportedly said she had given her 12-year-old dog, Beau, 5 milligrams of Lorazepam, and that he died soon afterward. Lorazepam is usually used to treat anxiety in people.Baldina also told officials that Fisher, her roommate, was there when Beau died, and he and the dog were alone together at one point.“While speaking with Baldina, it was determined the medication was not prescribed by a Veterinarian and that Baldina had never consulted with a Veterinarian about end of life or euthanasia options for her dog,” police said. “Baldina acknowledged that ‘Beau’ was older and was starting to have medical issues as a result of his age but still did not consult a Veterinarian.”Officials also learned that Beau had been buried in the backyard. After the interview, an ARL official spoke with Fisher, who reportedly said he had “choked Beau” soon after he was given the Lorazepam. A necropsy was later performed on Beau, and he was found to have died “due to trauma placed on the windpipe,” according to police.
https://www.facebook.com/SouthbridgePD/posts/1733444136811437?__cft__[0]=AZXt4we8R35_9aH-crlk2-PyJb9rMM1gWlpHZ_mTt_LHN0kTsnxFSMWp0suQvvp0GFqrznCuAP9nSYb4uO9TadsfkdgobgGQBkp0Bu6xjA_jrGG3m8NS8YmZxg1Bw7ls1rV41XK9bXXPwFuk1RrIhmajywRbe7Dsu2AxclWCXofldQvUVHbj4lhXoXqq8gx7pLM&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
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