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Police Charge Spencer Man With Animal Abuse

By TWIW Staff | January 27, 2020
Last Updated: March 23, 2021

SPENCER – A Spencer man is facing a charge of animal cruelty after police were called to his home more than a month ago when it was reported that a dog was in distress outside. 

Leonardo Pagan Marrero, 48, 41 Pleasant St., Spencer, was arrested on Jan. 25 shortly after midnight at his home. 

 

January 27, 2020 animal cruelty
Photo via Spencer Police Department

According to Spencer police, the investigation began on Dec. 12, 2019, at 1:38 a.m. when officers were called to the Pleasant Street home for a call about a barking dog. That night, the temperature was well below freezing when the officers found the dog tethered with a wire cable behind the property. The dog, a Siberian Husky, was tangled in the cable and “clearly in distress,” and had no access to shelter, food or water, said police. 

A neighbor told police that the owner was away and that someone was allegedly checking in on the pet. After hearing the story, officers took the dog and brought him to the Spencer kennel.

Police said they believed the animal had been abandoned, and brought him toe Siberian Husky Rescue with the hope of adoption. During a veterinary examination, it was found that the dog was underweight, and also tested positive for Lyme disease, Anaplasma and hookworms. 

By Jan. 24, 42 days after the initial call, no one had called about this dog, until a call came in that day from a third party reporting the animal missing. The caller also said the owner was back in town. 

Pagan posted $2,000 cash bail after his arrest and was released pending his arraignment on Monday.


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