NORTHBRIDGE, MA (WBZ-AM) -- A horrific Act of animal abuse lands a Whitinsville man in court Tuesday.
Richard Piquard, 24, remains free on $1,000 bail, charged with one count of animal cruelty. He has also been ordered to give the MSPCA access to his house.
Sunday morning, a friend of Piquard's found his ex-girlfriend's 18 year old Shih Tzu buried under dirt and rocks in the woods behind his house.
Piquard had been caring for the dog Chico for 18 months and allegedly buried him alive because he didn't want to care for the animal anymore.
He was reportedly upset Chico did not get along with his new kitten and that his ex would not find the dog a new home.
Chico was still breathing when he was found, but ultimately had to be euthanized. The police chief says in his 40 years on the job, he's never seen anything like this.
WBZ NewsRadio1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports.