Taunton man charged with animal cruelty in case of severely malnourished dog

BROCKTON, Mass. (WLNE) — A Taunton man was released by a Brockton District Court judge after West Bridgewater police charged him with animal cruelty.

Devin Preeper, 27, was pulled over by police in November and the officer said that he observed a severely emaciated dog in the vehicle.

The dog, named Sprout, was taken to a vet for emergency care and is still recovering.

Prosecutors asked for $25,000 bail, and Preeper was released Tuesday on personal recognizance by the judge.

He is ordered not to own animals during the case, and he is due back in court in February.