SOUTHBRIDGE, MASS. (WHDH) - A Southbridge man and woman are facing animal cruelty charges after investigators determined they drugged and choked a dog to death.
Officers and the Animal Rescue League of Boston launched an investigation after receiving an anonymous tip on Aug. 15 stating that Ryan Fisher, 41, had posted several comments to his Facebook page claiming that he had “choked his dog to sleep because sleeping pills didn’t work,” according to a release issued by the police department.
During a trip to Fisher’s Morris Street home, officers spoke with the homeowner, Jacqueline Baldina, 58, who admitted to giving her 12-year-old dog Beau five milligrams of Lorazepam. She said the dog died a short time later.
Baldina also said Fisher, who is her roommate, was home at the time and was alone with the dog for a time while she was in another room.
Investigators were able to determine that Baldina had not consulted a veterinarian before giving her dog the medication.
A member of the ARL later contacted Fisher who admitted to choking Beau shortly after Baldina had administered the Lorazepam and claimed she was aware of his plan to end the dog’s life, according to the release.
“Ms. Baldina did supply some medications that she thought would help with the euthanizing of the dog,” Sgt. Paul Parlon of the Animal Rescue League said. “Mr. Fisher was left alone with the dog he admitted to then strangling the dog… While admitting it he showed with his hands and emotion in the middle of the driveway how he had done it.”
Beau was later exhumed and a necropsy report indicated that the cause of death was due to trauma placed on the windpipe of the dog.
“There are places like the Animal Rescue League in Boston that do offer humane forms of euthanization for animals,” Parlon said. “It’s a simple phone call.”
Both were arrested on warrants for cruelty to animals.
Baldina was released on $540 cash bail and Fisher, who was out on bail on a separate criminal matter, is currently being held at the Worcester County House of Correction on $2,500 cash bail.
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