Man charged with animal cruelty pleads no contest

By News Staff

news@abc6.com

The owner of the dog that had to be euthanized due to severe malnutrition plead no contest to animal cruelty charges Monday.

47-year-old Brian Kenney pleaded nolo contendere to a misdemeanor charge of unnecessary cruelty in court this Monday .

Kenny was sentenced to 11 months probation, a $100 fine, and he must give a $500 contribution to the RISPCA. He cannot have any pets for the duration of his probation, and has to relinquish his two dogs as a result. The animal cruelty conviction will remain on his record.

The RISPCA said Monday that Kenny was not intentionally starving Moses to death as originally perceived, but the dog was actually suffering from renal failure, which prevented him from absorbing any nutrition from his food.

Regardless, Kenny did not get Moses the proper veterinary care.

The lab who only weighed 37 pounds when he was brought in–one of the most emaciated dogs the RISPCA had ever seen.

Over 13,000 Rhode Island residents signed a petition for tougher animal cruelty laws.

© WLNE-TV 2016