2 Charged With Animal Abuse After Dog Found Starved With Broken Bones In Western Mass

A dog in Franklin County named Conrad was rescued from horrid conditions that left him emaciated, with several broken bones that had healed without being treated, and 20 small rocks in his stomach, the MSPCA said. But despite the abuse, Conrad's story may still have a happy ending.

MSPCA-Angell shelter staff say Conrad is loving and friendly despite his past abuse.
Photo Credit: *MSPCA-Angell*

MSPCA-Angell is now accepting applications to adopt Conrad.
Photo Credit: *MSPCA-Angell*

Conrad's owners surrendered him to the MSPCA on July 24. Authorities said he was extremely underweight, malnourished, showed signs of repeated beatings, and had 20 small rocks in his stomach.
Photo Credit: *MSPCA-Angell*

Josh Lanier

08/18/2023 4:01 p.m.

Yarras P. Fletcher and Aliah K. Rivera, both of Greenfield, were charged with two counts each of felony animal cruelty on Friday, Aug. 18, according to the MSPCA’s Law Enforcement Division. The duo were the owners of Conrad, a 5-year-old pit bull mix.

Greenfield police reached out to MSPCA investigators in July after witnesses called officers to report a dog in immediate need to rescue.

Officers went to the home and found Conrad malnourished and dangerously thin. Witnesses told investigators they had repeatedly seen the dog hit, kick, and beaten with a blunt object in the past, the MSPCA said.

The owners surrendered Conrad to the MSPCA on July 24, and rescuers took the dog to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office dog shelter for treatment.

Veterinarians said Conrad had a host of issues from the extended periods of neglect and abuse. Mike Keiley, the MSPCA-Angell Director of Adoption Centers and Programs, detailed some of them in a news release.

It appears that Conrad’s rear left leg, tibia, and fibula were all broken in the past and never treated, so they healed on their own We also found 20 small rocks in his stomach, which luckily have passed on their own and didn’t need to be surgically removed.Conrad was also incredibly skinny when he came to us. On a scale of one to nine, with one being extremely emaciated and nine being obese, he was only a two.

Vets have slowly nursed Conrad back to health since his rescue. Shelter staff said Conrad remains friendly and trusting despite his past abuse.

The MSPCA hopes to find Conrad a forever home soon. Those interested in adopting him can visit the MSPCA’s Boston Adoption Center, at 350 S Huntington Ave. in Jamaica Plain, on Tuesday through Sunday, noon until 3 p.m.

Click here to apply for adoption online.

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