UPDATE: Nicholas D. Pelloni was arrested Friday night in Suffolk. He is now in the Portsmouth City Jail, charged with Felony Animal Cruelty and Contempt of Court.
Portsmouth, Va. - Portsmouth Police say they are looking for a man who is accused of starving a puppy to death.
Animal Control officers responded to check the welfare of an animal on July 31st in the 700 block of Pacific Avenue.
Once they arrived, they were directed to a detached garage and found an adult female Boxer and seven puppies who were approximately 6.5 weeks old. All of the puppies were found inside a crate with no food or water. The mother was walking around but had no food or clean water. All of the dogs were emaciated and required medical attention.
As officers were looking around the garage for food, an eighth puppy was discovered dead inside a storage container. The body of the deceased puppy was sent to the State Veterinarian for a necropsy and it was concluded on August 25th that the puppy had died as a result of starvation.
The mother and her other seven puppies were taken into custody by Portsmouth Animal Control Officers.
A felony warrant for Animal Cruelty was secured against the owner of the dogs, 37 year-old Nicholas D. Pelloni.
Pelloni is described as a white male with short brown hair and brown eyes. Pelloni stands approximately 5’9” tall and weighs 185 pounds. Pelloni also has an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for Contempt of Court.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Nicholas D. Pelloni is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
