Scott Allen, Chief of Police
153 Central St.
East Bridgewater, MA 02333
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018
Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net
East Bridgewater Police Seeking to Identify Woman who Abandoned Dog at Groomer
EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Scott Allen reports that the East Bridgewater Police Department, Animal Control Officer and MSPCA-Angell’s Law Enforcement Department are seeking the public’s help in identifying a woman who brought a sick dog to a town groomer last week and never came back for the dog.
The woman dropped her older English brown and white bulldog off at the Secret Garden Pet Resort, 1040 Central St., to be groomed on Thursday, Aug. 23. She never came back for the dog and the groomer contacted Animal Control Officer Lisa McKay and MSCPA investigators were notified.
The woman is described as having an eye patch covering her right eye. She has long red hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. She is believed to be in her mid-40s and about five-feet-six-inches tall. She was wearing a gray t-shirt with blue jeans.
The woman listed her name as Melanie Wichester on the groomer’s intake form but, when that name was later run through a police database, it did not appear. The woman allegedly told the groomer that dog’s name is William Katz.
Surveillance cameras at the groomer captured video of the woman, but it was unclear how she arrived at the business.
The dog was covered in pressure sores and suffering from skin, eye and ear infections when he first arrived. He remains at Secret Garden and will be transferred to Long Island Bulldog Rescue after a mandatory seven-day stray hold expires on Thursday.
The dog’s ear infections are so severe that a veterinarian who examined him has recommended surgery to alleviate the pain he is experiencing. It is unclear at this stage where and when the operation will be performed.
Anyone with information that may lead investigators to identify the woman is urged to call the MSPCA’s Law Enforcement line at 1-800-628-5808 or East Bridgewater Police at 508-378-7223.
Animal cruelty is a felony in Massachusetts punishable by up to seven years in state prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Anyone interested in adopting the dog can contact Long Island Bulldog Rescue by visiting their website.
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