After two dozen animals — dogs, birds and a donkey — were found living in squalid conditions last month at a kennel in Middleboro, Massachusetts, felony charges have been filed against the kennel owner, according to the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
The agency's law enforcement department filed the charges Thursday against Michael Perette, of Middleboro, the ARL said in a news release. Five felony charges of animal cruelty and 23 misdemeanor charges of neglect and abuse have been filed against Perette.
The charges stem from a Sept. 24 search warrant in which the ARL and members of the Middleboro police and animal control departments went to inspect Perette's Marion Road property, according to the animal rescue.
During the inspection, 18 Cane Corsos and Dogo Argentino dogs, a donkey, a chicken, some ducks and a peacock with missing feathers were found living in inhumane and unsanitary conditions, they've said.
"Hours of urine and feces," Paul Parlon, an officer with the Animal Rescue League of Boston, said at the time of the kennel's condition. "The smell of ammonia was just so overwhelming that everybody had to walk out to keep their eyes from burning up."
Due to the conditions the animals were in, many were traumatized and will have to remain under evaluation before being put up for adoption, ARL officials have said.
The agency referred questions to the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office.
