Massachusetts: Framingham woman, Gabriella Catao, charged with animal cruelty

MASSACHUSETTS -- A local woman ignored a veterinarian’s advice about her pug and because of that, the dog will now have to have both eyes removed, a prosecutor said Friday in Framingham District Court.

Framingham Police arrested Gabriella Catao, 26, on Friday, and seized her 3-year-old pug, Samsao, prosecutor Emily Jackson said during Catao’s arraignment.

Framingham Animal Control first met Samsao and Catao in January. Samsao had escaped from Catao’s 10 Hamilton St., Framingham, home and the dog had what appeared to be a severely damaged eye.

“The eye was bleeding,” said Jackson. “The defendant said the dog had fallen the week before and injured his eye. It had been closed for a week, but the dog was still eating, so she said she thought it was still OK.”

Catao said she did not have money to bring the dog to a vet, so the animal control officer brought him. There, the vet said the dog would need its eye removed and to have surgery to save the other one, which was also damaged, the prosecutor said.

“She refused, and took the dog,” Jackson said.

Last Sunday, an animal control officer again picked up Samsao, who was running loose. This time, both eyes appeared to be seriously damaged. The animal control officer again brought the dog to the vet, who said neither eye could be saved and they would have to be removed.

Framingham Police obtained a warrant for Catao’s arrest, and she was picked up at her home on Friday. Police charged her with animal cruelty.

“She showed neglect to this dog,” Jackson said.

Jackson asked Judge David Cunis to hold Catao on $1,000 bail. She said Catao has a minimal record that includes being charged with being a keeper of a disorderly house, which she skipped hearings for on two occasions. She also has an open case that charges her with failing to send a child to school.

“She shows an inability to follow court orders,” Jackson said.

Catao’s lawyer, Christopher Post, argued that the lack of medical care was not because of neglect, but from a lack of money.

Cunis released Catao without bail, but turned Samsao over to Framingham Animal Control.
“The dog is out of your custody,” said Cunis. “You lose the dog.”

Catao is due back in court next month for a pretrial conference.

The Framingham Animal Control office is seeking donations to help pay for Catao’s surgery.

Donations can be sent to Slade Veterinary Hospital, 334, Concord St., Framingham, Massachusetts, 01702. Put a note on the check that says Framingham Urgent Rescue (F.U.R. Fund) with the donation.

(MetroWest Daily News - May. 1, 2015)