By WPRO News
The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) announced Wednesday that “Bonniedale Farm” owner Daniel MacKenzie was arrested on 4 counts of animal cruelty.
The RISPCA said it received a complaint earlier this month about two pigs owned by MacKenzie at a Scituate property. After investigating,the RISPCA said it found that the pigs were without proper shelter, food, or water, in frigid temperatures.
“The water was actually frozen. The ice was 2 or 3 inches thick. We know that he was giving these pigs a diet consisting of donuts and bagels,” said RISPCA Director E.J. Finnochio.
RISPCA seized the pigs and later found they had medical issues, including hypothermia and skin and eye infections. Finnochio said MacKenzie is running a “bogus” rescue.
“We’ve gotten more complaints on Mr. MacKenzie over the years than any other person in the State of Rhode Island,” he said.
Finnochio said MacKenzie is claiming harassment, which Finnochio denies. MacKenzie was released following his Tuesday arrest and declined to comment.
