CANTON, Mass. — A Canton couple who brought an emaciated dog to the MSPCA are now being accused of being the people who severely neglected the dog, according to the Norfolk DA.
Michael Coke, 24 and Tatyana Denis, 22, of Canton, were each indicted on one charge of animal cruelty. Coke was additionally indicted for misleading police.
On July 28, the duo brought in a severely emaciated dog to the MSPCA Angell in Jamaica Plain they said was found near the Massasoit Community College campus.
Now named "Glitch", the approximately 1-year-old Pitbull mix weighed only 15 lbs when he was brought in by Coke and Denis, about 35 lbs less than a healthy dog at his age. Glitch was also completely hunched over and walked on his shins, a behavior that lead veterinarians to believe he spent most of his life confined to a cage.
Thankfully, Glitch survived and has already been adopted.
The MSPCA publicized the case in August hoping to gain information on who had mistreated Glitch.
"The MSPCA law enforcement division and the veterinarians at Angell have been excellent partners in this investigation," said District Attorney Michael Morrissey. "We are thankful to them, and to the Canton Police Department, for the work and investigation that led to today's indictments."
The case will be prosecuted by the Norfolk ADA in Norfolk Superior Court.
Anyone with additional information about this incident is encouraged to call the MSPCA's lead investigator on the matter, Officer Nadya Moreno, at 617-522-6008.
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