A Salem Superior Court judge found a 54-year old Long Beach, New York dog breeder guilty of animal cruelty on July 20 following a week and a half long bench trial.
Judge James Lang found Dominic Donovan guilty of six counts of animal cruelty Friday morning. Donovan’s bail was revoked and he was taken into custody until the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, July 25 at 2 p.m. in Salem Superior Court.
“This defendant cruelly inflicted pain and suffering on four innocent puppies and inhumanly killed two others. This is not only unacceptable but criminal,†Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. “I am grateful to everyone on the prosecution and investigative team for their hard work so that this defendant will be held accountable for these despicable acts.â€
Essex Assistant District Attorney Lynsey Legier introduced evidence that proved that, in early November 2014, Dominic Donovan hung two puppies – “Gotti†and “Livid†– by their collars because they failed to meet his “breed standard.â€Â Their bodies were discovered 20 days later in a dumpster behind a gas station in Revere. He also cut the ears of four puppies using scissors and no anesthesia which later resulted in the death of one of the puppies.
The dogs were so-called “Donovan pinschers†a breed that the defendant was developing.
Jason Gentry, 37, who agreed to testify against his co-defendant, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of animal cruelty and 1 count of unlicensed operation of a dog kennel on March 14, 2018. He will be sentenced following the sentencing of Mr.
“The Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Department is pleased with this outcome,†said ARL Law Enforcement Director Lt. Alan Borgal. “The dedicated teamwork in this case between the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Revere and Lynn Police Departments, MDAR, USDA and ARL optimizes our mission and the commitment of municipal police agencies, humane law enforcement, animal control, boards of health and other state and federal agencies to dig deep into these unnecessary acts of animal cruelty and prosecute such a horrific crime.â€
In addition to the Animal Rescue League, Revere Police Department Detective David Caraminica, Lynn Police Department Detective Steve Withrow, MA Department of Agricultural Resources Chief State Veterinarian Lorraine O’Connor DVM, ADA Legier commended the work of Essex Victim/Witness Advocate Cristina Garcia, Pamela Reid, Vice President of the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team, and Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore, Forensic Veterinarian.