PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A former employee of Philadelphia’s Animal Care and Control Team is facing felony animal cruelty charges in connection to the death of a family’s dog, according to the district attorney’s office.
Tiffany Lavelle’s dog, Saint, was taken into a Philadelphia police officer’s cruiser after her then boyfriend was arrested following a traffic stop on August 4, 2021.
Per protocol, upon arrival at ACCT, the officer left the vehicle so that a trained ACCT employee could remove and transport the animal into the facility.
The officer says he saw the ACCT worker, identified as Terrell Walton, jab at the dog with a metal catch pole several times, making the dog yelp.
It was later determined Saint’s jaw had been severely broken and that he had to be put down as a result of his injuries.
Lavelle said she was never told her dog would be euthanized and has since filed a lawsuit against ACCT.
Walton was arrested Friday and charged with with aggravated cruelty to an animal and cruelty to an animal, officials said.
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