HADDAM — Connecticut officers are investigating an area girl accused by Massachusetts police of ravenous a French bulldog to demise whereas the canine was in her care, in line with the state Department of Agriculture.
Josephine Ragland, 27, of Haddam, was charged by North Reading, Mass., police final week after an investigation revealed she had allowed a French bulldog that she had agreed to coach to starve to demise after which dumped its physique about 40 minutes from the place she lived, in line with a police report.
An investigation on what occurred in Connecticut is underway, mentioned agriculture division spokesperson Rebecca Eddy. “This is an open investigation and we now have no additional remark right now,” Eddy mentioned in an e mail Tuesday morning.
The canine was owned by North Reading, Mass., residents Bart and Jessie Hanson, who mentioned they now are decided to unfold the phrase about what occurred to their “candy” 3-year-old bulldog Charlie, who they are saying cherished individuals. “This is likely one of the worst experiences of my life,” Bart Hanson mentioned in a 40-minute YouTube video he posted discussing what occurred to his beloved pet.
Ragland is slated to seem in a Massachusetts courtroom in Middlesex County subsequent week on fees of larceny over $1,200 by false pretense and obstruction of/deceptive a police officer. Both fees are felonies.
According to a 21-page prison grievance filed by North Reading police, Ragland is also below investigation in California, the place there are extra allegations of animal abuse related to the coaching she supplied on Thumbtack, an internet home providers web site.
The Hansons additionally had contacted Ragland via Thumbtack, the place she was providing in-home canine coaching for 2 weeks, the grievance mentioned. She picked Charlie up on the Hansons’ home in North Reading on Sept. 1 and so they by no means noticed the canine once more different in photographs that Ragland texted every day, Bart Hanson mentioned within the video.
He had reached out to Ragland’s firm “Wagging Good” after seeing her profile had good opinions on Thumbtack, Bart Hanson mentioned Tuesday. But when she picked up the canine, Ragland refused to present her actual title or tackle — which he mentioned ought to have been a purple flag. “I did not assume it was that odd on the time since a number of of the workmen I had employed on Thumbtack had carried out the identical factor,” Bart Hanson mentioned.
According to police, the household reported on Sept. 16 that they despatched their French bulldog to a Haddam, Conn., resident for coaching and the canine hadn’t been returned after the coaching interval was scheduled to finish. Police didn’t title Ragland of their preliminary press launch in regards to the incident however the 21-page grievance identifies her because the suspect charged in reference to the demise of Charlie.
Police mentioned they decided the canine died about two weeks earlier whereas within the coach’s care. However, Ragland continued sending the homeowners footage apparently exhibiting the canine being skilled, police mentioned. Police mentioned after they interviewed the lady, she made quite a few false and deceptive statements to hinder the investigation.
A necropsy carried out on the University of Connecticut decided the canine was emaciated on the time of its demise, in line with police. Four different dogs have been recovered from the lady and returned safely to their homeowners, officers mentioned.
This is a creating story, examine again for updates.
Staff author Matt Knox contributed to this story.
