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Boston man facing animal cruelty charges for whipping, dragging dog, claims he was pet-sitting
The man told law enforcement that he was pet-sitting the dog and was trying to train it, and further alleged that the dog bit him.
A Boston man is facing animal cruelty charges after he allegedly mistreated a dog he claimed to be pet-sitting, prosecutors said.
Akeem Pierre, 42, was charged Thursday in the Dorchester division of Boston Municipal Court with animal cruelty and animal cruelty by custodian, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Pierre was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from the dog he allegedly mistreated, not own any animals, report to weekly probation meetings, and undergo a mental health evaluation.
Law enforcement from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) were first notified of the alleged incident June 13 when they received a call and video from “a concerned citizen.” In the video, Pierre can be seen walking a red and grey merle mix dog named Pluto and “repeatedly whipping the dog across the face and head with the leash,” the DA’s office said.
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Pierre also allegedly screamed and swore at Pluto while dragging the dog behind him and lifted Pluto into the air by the leash. He later told officers he was pet-sitting Pluto and was trying to train the dog by tapping it on the nose, according to the DA’s office.
When confronted with the video, Pierre claimed that Pluto bit him, though the video does not show this, prosecutors said. Pluto, who was “located and successfully surrendered” through the MSPCA, was uninjured and has since been adopted, prosecutors said.
The MSPCA said when he was surrendered in June that the dog is “remarkably friendly.”
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Pierre is due back in court Dec. 4 for a pre-trial hearing. He also has a pending second offense in Dorchester from 2021 for operating under the influence, according to the DA’s office.
“There are laws in place to protect pets from cruel and violent treatment just as there are laws to protect people from violence,” Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the statement. If a set of facts supports charging someone with animal cruelty we will not hesitate to move forward.”
Members of the public reporting animal abuse are encouraged to call the Animal Rescue League hotline at 617-426-9170 x110 or the MSPCA hotline at 617-522-6008 or 800-628-5808.
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