“Witnesses said the dogs appeared to be in distress, unresponsive actually,” said Lt. Manny J. Febo, adding that the windows on the cap enclosing the bed had been left closed.
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| Robert Dufresne |
Robert Dufresne, of 392 Amostown Road, West Springfield, was charged with two counts of cruelty to animals, police documents state. Cruelty to animals is a felony with a maximum penalty of five years in state prison, Febo said. Dufresne was arraigned Monday in Holyoke District Court. Innocent pleas were entered on his behalf and he was released on his own recognizance. The case was continued until Sept. 23.
Police removed two dogs, a Golden Retriever and a smaller dog, and Sears employees help revive them by bringing out water. Animal Control Officer Donald Tryon told police that the dogs needed to be brought to an animal hospital right away, Febo said.
“I guess they were in real tough shape,” said Febo, who did not know the condition of the dogs on Monday.
Pam Peebles, executive director for the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center in Springfield, said the Golden Retriever remains under care at the Boston Road Animal Hospital in Springfield.
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| RIP Jasper, who died after being locked in a hot vehicle |
The other dog, which she said was a Chihuahua / Corgi mix, is in better shape and was being held at the O’Connor facility.
She said staff at the facility were preparing to give it back to its owner as soon as they receive a written release from signed by the Holyoke Animal Control Officer Donald Tryon.
Tryon declined to comment on the case Monday afternoon.
Update, August 3, 2010: Jasper, the 5-year-old golden retriever / lab mix, has died, WWLP reports this morning.
(MassLive - August 02, 2010)