EVERETT, MASS. (WHDH) - An Everett man accused of beating a 13-week-old pit bull so severely that the bones in its right leg are broken and its ligaments are severely damaged faced a judge on Thursday.
Jamal Escobar, 25, was arraigned on an animal cruelty charge after his girlfriend told police he injured the animal while tearing apart an apartment in Somerville.
The dog, since renamed Ellie, is now being cared for by Everett Animal Control.
Everett Animal Control Officer Stacia Gorgone said its injuries are severe.
“She does whimper if she walks on the leg too much, so she’s restricted. She can’t play like a normal dog,” she said. “She can’t use any stairs. I have to pick her up to take her outside to go to the bathroom.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the puppy’s medical expenses.
A Somerville police report details that the woman told officers Escobar abused the dog, saying: “She was in the shower and heard what sounded like the dog being struck. She then heard the dog crying. The dog had been limping after the incident.”
Gorgone said, “she wants love. It’s a shame this happened.”
Now a veterinarian will decide whether Ellie’s leg will have to be amputated.
“If you beat up a human and they lose their limb, it’s pretty bad, so the same for a dog,” Gorgone said.
Police say a day after they found Ellie, her owner asked them to drop all charges against Escobar, claiming he did not hurt the dog, but prosecutors have moved forward, accusing Escobar of animal cruelty.
“I think she’ll recover well and hopefully forget this happened to her,” Gorgone said.
Escobar returns to court on Friday.
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