In Quincy, Aristide, 61. is facing 12 counts of cruelty to animals and one count each of vandalizing a water meter and fraudulently using water.
Mansfield authorities learned that there could be up to seven dogs housed in Unit 3D at 21 East St., and they had not been cared for within the last 48 hours.
An investigation revealed that no one had been seen coming or going from the residence since Sept. 9 and dogs could be heard barking inside.
At approximately 9:15 a.m., Sept. 11, Mansfield police detectives John Armstrong and Kenneth Wright, along with Animal Control Officer Jeff Collins and Town of Norton and Foxboro Animal Control Officers responded to the condo.
Access was gained to the residence and three adult dogs, a Doberman and two poodles, and four Doberman/poodle puppies were located inside, according to Lt. Sam Thompson. The adult dogs were about eight years old and the puppies about five- to six-months old.
The three adult dogs were taken to the Norton Animal Shelter and the puppies went to Mansfield’s shelter. All seven were to be examined by a veterinarian and cared for. The puppies have already been examined and reportedly fine, Thompson said.
The Mansfield condo conditions were nothing like what police found in Quincy, Thompson said. No charges are currently expected to be filed against Aristide in Mansfield, he added.
Tuesday in Quincy, seven dogs, all a Doberman-poodle mix, were found covered in feces and urine by officers who raided a blighted duplex on Kidder Street where the animals were being kept, according to the Quincy Police Department. Police said the clapboard home had holes through its exterior walls and was filled with garbage and the "overwhelming" odor of dog urine coming from the basement. They found no evidence that anyone was living there.
It’s not clear whether Aristide owns the duplex, which was declared uninhabitable and boarded up by Quincy building inspectors on Tuesday. Aristide’s attorney, Paul Stanton, said Sept. 10 that his client is the owner of the home, but Assistant District Attorney Tracey Cusick said its ownership is not clear. According to city assessor records, the property has been owned by the heirs of Catherine McDonald since 1976.
Aristide turned himself in to police Tuesday night, Sept. 9 bringing five more dogs with him. Cusick said all 12 dogs were examined by a veterinarian and appeared to be in reasonably good health, though they were dirty, smelled of urine and some bore marks that suggested they had been fighting among each other. They have been turned over to the Quincy Animal Shelter.
Stanton said Aristide had been devoted to the dogs and stopped by daily to feed them, walk them and change the pine shavings on the basement floor. Stanton said Aristide loved dogs and at one point special-ordered a Doberman and a poodle, which last year gave birth to a litter of what he called "Doberdoodles." He said all of them were licensed with the city.
"He vehemently denies these charges," Stanton said. "He tells me the dogs are in great shape."
Stanton said Aristide lives at a friend’s condominium in Mansfield and kept some of the dogs there.
He said Aristide has worked in waste management in the past but found that dogs were "his passion" and wanted to become a breeder.
Judge Mary Orfanello set bail at $2,500 cash Wednesday and ordered him to stay away from all animals and any witnesses – including animal control personnel and his Quincy neighbors – if he is released on bail.
(Wicked Local Foxborough - Sep 12, 2014)
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