A man whose identity is being kept under wraps by police has been summonsed to Edgartown District Court for animal cruelty based on an allegation he severely injured a 12-week-old mixed breed puppy named Pongo.
“Our Animal Control Officer, Kate Hoffman was contacted [by] a veterinarian to report that an approximately 12-week-old puppy was in their care, that had received extensive injuries after being allegedly thrown against a bureau,” Tisbury Police Lt. Bill Brigham wrote in an email.
“During the investigation, the male suspect admitted that he ‘tossed’ the puppy after it bit him in the hand and became aggressive towards his young child. Charges have been filed at Edgartown District Court for animal cruelty. The puppy is receiving the care it needs and is in stable condition at a veterinarian facility located off-Island. The puppy has been surrendered to their care and custody by the male owner/suspect. This incident is being handled jointly by Tisbury ACO Kate Hoffman, The Tisbury Police Department, and The MSPCA.”
Brigham told The Times the abuse was reported on March 31 and allegedly occurred on or about March 30.
Brigham declined to release the name of the suspect, the veterinarian, or other details because an arraignment hasn’t taken place and releasing those details, he said, might jeopardize the case. He said Cape and Islands District Michael O’Keefe’s office specifically requested the police report be withheld until the prospective defendant can be arraigned.
Brigham said Hoffman has been working with Tisbury police Sgt. Max Sherman on the case.
He also said the puppy is in safe hands. “It was adopted by one of the workers at the veterinary clinic.”
ACO Hoffman told The Times the puppy was surrendered rather than seized but there was little else she could disclose because the legal process was still in an early stage.
A spokesman for the MSPCA said the organization isn’t involved in the investigation, that it’s being handled “by local police and [an] animal control office.”
I call BS on saying the puppy was aggressive. I can only speculate how it ended up being thrown against a bureau.
I have had a lot of dogs in my lifetime, and some were nippier/bitey as pups but not one of them deserved abuse.
I’m sure they will get nothing for punishment as is the case with most animal abusers.
There is no reason ANYBODY would hurt an animal . Unless they were twisted , this guy is not twisted. He has a business where he takes care of so many ppl. He was PSYCHED for this dog and loved it . In this realm of technology , everybody just wants to jump on to SOMETHING they identify with. A person that doesn’t like him sent this information to the paper and you people are all doing THAT person’s bidding. NOT a good job . This man just brought his daughter over my house with the puppy and her little doctor bag and it was something from a movie. Her and him checking on the dogs heart and everything. . So fun and amazing . Then I read all this. This island has issues with what’s actually going down vs narrative.
I’m so happy the pup was adopted by one of the workers! Thank you to whomever adopted this precious pup.
Puppies do, ” mouth” nip/bite. They are puppies!
Sometimes, children “bite” playmates, siblings. Young children do not always understand that puppies, dogs, kittens, cats are not stuffed animals and that they will react if pulled on, jumped on, have their fur grabbed.are disturbed while eating, etc.
Young children and puppies do not always understand how to be nice to each other.
Throwing a puppy, kitten, or child is abuse.
No pet deserves any form of abuse! How cowardly and sick is this person? To throw a puppy against a bureau because it nipped you. It turns my stomach to think of this! Not a very stable person in my mind. Poor pup.
I don’t care what the puppy did it certainly didn’t deserve that abuse at a human beings hands. I hope the abuser gets what’s coming to him!!
Puppies nip, that’s what they do. Training that’s non aggressive teaches them. This man’s name should be released so he never has the chance to get another pup.
I dont understand, identity is being kept under wraps by police??
Please advise..
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Brigham declined to release the name of the suspect, the veterinarian, or other details because an arraignment hasn’t taken place and releasing those details, he said, might jeopardize the case.
“The greatness of a society (and individual) is judged by the way the animals are treated.” ~ Gandhi
Prayers for love, peace, and healing going forward for this completely innocent and vulnerable puppy. All animals need our protection.
*threw
SMH
Saw that. Lol
I have 2 12 week old puppies at home. I can’t imagine what they could do to make someone want to hurt them and they are all teeth at this age. Let’s hope they don’t have any other pets and don’t get any in the future.
This individual who abused this puppy should be placed in a 4’ x 4’ x 4’ dog cage for a month
Once again Tisbury seems to be hiding information… probably someone’s friend in the department. I relieved the puppy is in safe hands, no reason for anyone to abuse an animal.
Must be a friend of law enforcement, or another island police chief to get such special treatment from the TPD.
Who else could get our public officials to suppress these details?
The MV Times is going to have to fire up the FOI request forms on this one.
I have two puppy’s running through my house at this moment. And the only person I want to kick is myself. What was I thinking. Let’s all pray that this person learns an important lesson and learns how to control his anger before he hurts anyone else in his family.
😔😣 I hope Pongo’s new owner gives him so much gentle affection that he someday forgets what people are like at their worst.
Treats, too.
Please let us know if there are any updates on how he’s healing.
“Brigham said Hoffman has been working with Tisbury police Sgt. Max Sherman on the case.”
Well, we can all take comfort this investigation will be conducted with the highest of ethical and judicial considerations.
Wow Kojac , Thank God you’re following the case . I I won’t even go into my backyard if birds are at my feeders . Our family dog Roland just died unexpectedly and I was destroyed. Still am . Animal lover? All I can ask you is this.. were you there?? Are you close to anybody who was there? Then why are you bothering commenting? Does it make you feel better? I just can’t personally can’t imagine commenting on something so personal and so awful when not knowing anything. The island s nothing but a narrative and it’s really sad .
I am flabbergasted by the responses to this story , to which NONE of you know ANYTHING about . As usual !!
YOU’RE JUST LIKE THE CROWD THAT CHEERLEADED NED STARKS BEHEADING. THEY DID IT TO JESUS, THEY DID TO EVERYBODY( ‘ SORRY FATHER , THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO’) Beyond that . What’s Bill Maher saying now about the Democratic party ? 2 years later ? YOU WERE WRONG . same same . DON’T JUMP INTO THINGS .READ AND UNDERSTAND FIRST.
When I was a CHILD I was nibbling on my beautiful puppy King’s ear and he bit me through the face. The puncture wound went through the top of my eye and came out the bottom of my cheekbone. No big deal . Now you have a poor guy who’s ‘puppy’ tried to bite his daughter’s face while he was out of the room for a second… Who knows what was going on. If it wasn’t for him getting to the dog first…because he dotes on her ….then the dog bit him and he ‘moved’ the dog to shorten the distance between the dog and his lovely daughter ,whom he cherishes. If that dog had bit into his daughter’s face , eye, lips, you people would burn him at the stake like Joan of Ark…man you can’t win these days . Before you start pointing fingers, whether it’s Jesus or whomever you want to quote about ‘STONES THROWN’…WHAT WOULD YOU DO?? … THIS MAN BOUGHT A PUPPY THAT I KNOW HE LOVED. THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN EMOTIONALLY DESTRUCTIVE… FOR WHAT ??
FEEL BETTER NOW ? SO DID YOU GET YOUR POUND OF FLESH ?? I’M EMBARASSED TO READ ALL THIS REFUSE . HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY. OTHERS TO KNOW HIM WHILE ARE DISGUSTED. YOU SHOULD BE DISGUSTED THAT YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT BUT THROW STONES JUST TO ALLEVIATE YOUR INNER PAIN.
I hope his child never bites him…..
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