Boston, MA: Man Charged With Cruelty After Puppy's Death

MSPCA: Man Abused 3 Dogs

POSTED: 12:53 pm EDT April 8, 2010
UPDATED: 1:16 pm EDT April 8, 2010


BOSTON -- A Massachusetts man was arraigned on animal cruelty charges after the death of a 5-month-old puppy, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Thursday.
The MSPCA Law Enforcement department has filed four counts of animal cruelty against Jon Katkavich following the death of the Beagle-mix puppy.
The investigation, headed by MSPCA Sgt. Peter Oberton, uncovered an alleged history of abuse unleashed on three dogs dating as far as back as 2009 while Katkavich lived with his then-girlfriend in Shrewsbury.
Investigators said that Katkavich beat three dogs to the point where veterinarians determined that each dog received injuries consistent with severe trauma.
Investigators said in November 2009, Emmy, a 2-year-old Pomeranian was treated by veterinarians in western Massachusetts for head trauma, pulmonary contusions, a collapsed lung and a fractured ulna. Tests also uncovered a healed rib fracture, investigators said. She was treated by veterinarians in February 2010 for trauma to her eye, which was later removed, investigators said.
In January 2010, Romeo, a 3-month-old Dachshund, was treated by veterinarians for head trauma and a traumatic bleeding into the abdomen, investigators said.
In February 2010, Bear, the 5-month-old Beagle-mix, was treated for fractures to his right legs, acute trauma to his left eye, head trauma, and additional fractures to his jaw, hard palate, skull, shoulder and rib cage. Bear also had sepsis, an overwhelming amount of bacteria in his bloodstream, and died, investigators said.
The death of Bear triggered a complaint from veterinarians in western Massachusetts to the MSPCA Law Enforcement department.
Katkavich was arraigned in Westboro District Court on Tuesday, and was ordered to return to court on May 13 for a pretrial hearing.