UPDATE: Animal Rescue League in desperate need of donations

July 20, 2016 6:19 pm

By: Melissa Randall

@MRandallABC6

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is putting out the call for help after the tragic discovery of hundreds of animals living in cruel and unsanitary conditions in Westport.

The ARL joining police in an on-going effort to rescue, remove, and provide emergency veterinary treatment for these abused animals.

The lead community veterinarian at the Animal Rescue League saying this is the worst case he has ever seen, as far as scale and conditions.

So far, the ARL has taken custody of 57 animals including dogs, cats, rabbits and other.

Over the last few days investigators have found hundreds of dead and injured animals on a Westport farm. The 70 acre property on American Legion Highway is familiar to local police. They were there in 2010 investigating a similar case of animal abuse.

The animals in this most recent case were found among 20 unsanitary enclosures across the property. According to police the property owner rents them out to other people who each have their own key. Police say because of that it is hard to know exactly how long the animals have been living in the deplorable conditions which included decaying carcasses and feces.

“It’s disgusting, and it’s extremely unfortunate and sad that these animals have to live in these conditions,” said Det. Sgt. Tony Cestodio of the Westport Police Department.

Investigators were called to the farm last week after a complaint from a tenant about loose dogs that killed his goats. Police were horrified by what else they saw, and got a warrant to investigate.

Veterinarians with the Boston Animal Rescue League were on site Wednesday. They carefully check over each cat, dog, goat, chicken, pig and horse and saving those that they can. The triage process is expected to take several days to complete, but what lead vet Kyle Quigley saw can only be described as horrific.

“Animals with broken limbs, animals with horrific injuries that have been untreated, animals with respiratory conditions,” he explained to reporters.

In the July 2010 case police charged several people with animal abuse including renters and the property owner, Richard Medieros. According to court records obtained by ABC6 News that charge was eventually dismissed. The state was unable to prove he had direct knowledge of the abuse. Police say Medeiros is once again making a similar claim.

“He felt that he only owns the land and that somehow he’s not responsible for what occurs on it. He did say something like that,” said Cestodio.

Investigators say the newest operation is on a much larger scale then the one before. They are carefully documenting everything and plan to file charges in the coming days, potentially with the Attorney General’s Office.

“Let’s just hope that it doesn’t continue. That it’s not allowed to continue. They need to stop it,” said Animal Control Officer Donna Lambert.

Quigley says a few animals were found to be in good health. Their owners are allowed to pick them up as long as they check in with police. As for the ones cared for the Animal rescue league, they will eventually go up for adoption.