Hanover Kennel Shut Down, Owner Facing Charges After Pet's Death

HANOVER (CBS) -- A kennel was forced to shut down and its owner is facing animal cruelty charges after a family's pet died.

Tracey Siciliano picked up her golden doodle, Ben, last month at the Briarwood Kennel in Hanover--a place she's used several times before.

But Siciliano said Ben was covered in bites and bruises, and was near death. She rushed him to the ER, but the three-year-old dog died after surgery.

"I had no idea how horribly mauled he was until they had shaved his little body," Siciliano told WBZ-TV. "He had been bitten from the top of his head to the bottom of his tail."

On Tuesday, town officials shut down the kennel.

Owner David Ricardo is facing charges of animal cruelty. Officials say his own dog, Grizzly, attacked Ben.

Ricardo will be summonsed to court, and will have to meet with town officials next Monday to determine what will happen to his business.

Animal Control officers will determine what will be done with his dog Grizzly.