Michael Edison is accused of beating a dog at an Ashland kennel where he worked.
Credit: Asland Police
An Ashland kennel worker is accused in a violent case of animal abuse after surveillance cameras allegedly caught him repeatedly kicking a dog.
Michael Edison, 23, of Marlborough, was arrested Friday and charged with animal cruelty, according to Ashland Police.
Ashland Police Lt. Rich Briggs said officers were called to Camp Canine after the owner there reviewed surveillance footage and discovered the alleged beating.
The owner told detectives that she found Edison at the kennel early for his shift on Thursday and that he appeared agitated. He allegedly told the owner that a 2-year-old labrador named Dexter lunged at him and tried to attack him. The owner found blood on a ball in the dog’s run, but couldn’t find where the blood had come from.
Later that night she reviewed the surveillance footage and it allegedly showed Edison chasing the dog in the outdoor play area with a rake. Once inside, Edison can be seen on camera kicking the dog multiple times, Briggs said. The dog was sometimes out of view of the camera.
“The dogmoved back into view of the camera and Edison picks up the dog and slams it on the ground four or five times,” Briggs said.
In a statement posted on their Facebook page, the owners of the kennel said they recently purchased the business and have a zero-tolerance policy on mistreatment of animals.
“We absolutely cannot tolerate any incident that involves the mishandling of any of the dogs in our care,” the owners said.
During his arraignment on Monday, Edison pleaded not guilty and was released after posting bail, according to WCVB. He was ordered to stay 15 yards away from animals, except for the pair of cats that live with him and his mother.
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.
