ARL assists Rochester animal control and police department on the case

On Tuesday afternoon, Rochester Animal Control Officer Anne Estabrook uncovered a farm in Rochester, Massachusetts under deplorable conditions. She immediately contacted the Rochester Police Department to open a criminal investigation for animal cruelty.

ARL’s director of law enforcement, Lt. Alan Borgal, was called in to help remove animals from a Rochester farm on Tuesday. The farm owner was arrested and arraigned on 21 counts of cruelty to animals. Photo courtesy of Rochester Police Department.

When they arrived on the scene, investigators found 23 animals which included dogs, pigs, cows, goats, and rabbits who had been severely neglected.

Most of the animals were housed in pens filled with mud, garbage, and feces. All of the animal appeared to be malnourished; many were sick and suffering, and one baby calf was found deceased on the property. Two unlicensed dogs were also located on the premesis.

Lt. Alan Borgal, director of law enforcement at the Animal Rescue League of Boston was called in to help remove the deceased baby calf from the scene.

The property owner agreed to surrender all of his animals and was arrested and charged with 21 counts of cruelty to animals. A felony in Massachusetts, each count of animal cruelty carries a sentence of up to 7 years in state prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. The owner will also be facing action by the town of Rochester for various health and building code violations.

The investigation is still on-going.

TAKE ACTION! Report suspicions of animal cruelty to your local authorities. Learn more at arlboston.org/take-action.