WPRO News and the Associated Press
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) – A Massachusetts woman and her boyfriend have been arrested after authorities found 23 animals dead and another 23 that were sick and malnourished in an apartment.
Police say they found the animals in the New Bedford home Wednesday night while responding to a complaint about a foul odor. The animals included including cats, dogs, lizards, rabbits, birds and chinchillas.
New Bedford officials say they believe the animals had been dead for more than a week, and there was little food and no signs of water.
Police charged 23-year-old Sabrina Harding and 24-year-old Jake Brousseau with animal cruelty. Both were arraigned Thursday in New Bedford District Court and ordered held without bail.
Harding and Brousseau’s responses to the allegations aren’t known. It wasn’t immediately clear if they have lawyers.
