September 10, 2013
From Telegram.com
WORCESTER — A city man has been charged with animal cruelty for allegedly setting an illegal trap in his yard that caused a skunk to die an agonizing death, according to MSPCA-Angell’s Law Enforcement Department.
Dennis Duval, 77, of 188 Sunderland Road is to be arraigned next month in Central District Court.
Worcester Animal Control Officer Patrick Cherry found the young male skunk alive but gravely wounded on Aug. 15. A neighbor had called authorities to report that a skunk was caught in a trap, according to a statement of facts by Officer Cherry on file in court.
The animal had tried to chew its front leg off after being caught in the trap, according to an MSPCA-Angell news release. Mr. Cherry took the wild skunk to a local veterinarian, who euthanized it.
The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $2,500 fine.