Police/Fire

Huntington man denies animal cruelty charge

By REBECCA EVERETT
@GazetteRebecca
Daily Hampshire Gazette
NORTHAMPTON — A 32-year-old Huntington man accused of shooting his dog while drunk pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge of animal cruelty in Northampton District Court.
Cobey J. Krupa, of 18 Laurel St., shot his dog March 26 in an attempt to kill it after his grandfather told him he could only move in if he stopped drinking and got rid of his 4-year-old German Shepherd, according to charges filed by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Law Enforcement.
Krupa’s grandfather, Charles Pierce of 6 Thomas Road, wrote in a statement that the dog was badly injured by the gunshot, so he took the gun and killed it “to end the dog’s suffering.”
MSCPA Law Enforcement Sgt. Roy Sutton wrote in court documents that he received an anonymous tip March 30 that Krupa had shot his dog and felt badly about it. Sutton interviewed Pierce, who said that on March 26 his grandson showed up at his home drunk with the dog, which Pierce thought had a broken leg, and asked to move in. Pierce said he could not live there if he drank alcohol or with the dog, according to court documents.
After talking a while longer, Krupa asked to borrow Pierce’s shotgun and Pierce complied. Krupa then went outside and shot the dog, Pierce said.
Pierce told Sutton he then shot the injured dog and buried it in his yard.
Krupa’s grandmother, whose name was not included in court documents, told Sutton she tried to stop her grandson from shooting the dog, but was unsuccessful.
After the clerk magistrate found probable cause April 16 for the charge of animal cruelty, Krupa was summoned to court, but he failed to appear for his arraignment May 1 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. A note in his file said he had been committed to an unknown treatment facility but would be released in early May.
According to court documents, Krupa appeared in court Thursday and was released on personal recognizance. He is due back in court June 12.
If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.
Rebecca Everett can be reached at [email protected].

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