Dog pushed down cliff into water-filled quarry
Milford, MA (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004
County: Worcester
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Andrew Pelliccia
Milford Police are planning to seek animal cruelty charges against a Rhode Island teen who allegedly shoved a stray dog 30 feet down a cliff into a water-filled quarry off Cedar Street yesterday. Andrew Pelliccia, 19, of Pawtucket, allegedly pushed the purebred Rhodesian Ridgeback off the ledge and into one of the two quarries on the Fletcher's Quarry property, said Officer Jeffrey Varteresian of the Milford police.
The animal survived after being rescued by three of Pelliccia's friends and two other teens who witnessed the fall. However, the dog paws and joints were bloody, Varteresian said. Pelliccia ran away after the incident.
Pelliccia and his three friends from Rhode Island went to the quarries near the Hopkinton border yesterday morning, leaving their vehicle near 115 Cedar St., an area from where police often tow and ticket cars to prevent unauthorized parking, Varteresian said.
The dog joined the four Rhode Island teenagers after they left their car. "The dog was kind of following them and trusting them," Varteresian said.
Pelliccia's friends and two other teens from Milford and Franklin, became upset when Pelliccia suddenly pushed the dog off the cliff around noon, Varteresian said. The friends pulled the animal from the water and went to a nearby house to call police.
Animal Control Officer Rochelle Thomson took the dog to Legion Animal Hospital in Holliston while Varteresian investigated the incident. The animal was treated for numerous cuts and given antibiotics, Thomson said.
"He's doing good now," Thomson said after leaving the veterinarian's office. "He had quite a few bumps and bruises and scrapes."
Thomson believes the unlicensed dog, which is not neutered, is about 6 or 7 years old. He was not wearing any identification providing his name or owner, she said.
"We don't know anything about him," Thomson said. "He's still stray and no one has called to claim him."
The dog had a "dead tail" prior to the fall, Thomson said.
Thomson said she will notify the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about the incident while police seek criminal charges.
Pelliccia will be one of the last people Milford police charge with misdemeanor animal cruelty. A new state law, co-sponsored by state Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, and state Rep. Reed Hillman, D-Sturbridge, makes animal cruelty a felony punishable by 2 1/2 years to five years in jail.
Signed into law Aug. 19, the legislation takes effect in November. References« MA State Animal Cruelty Map
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