Man Charged with Animal Cruelty

(Originally published Oct. 5, 2016) CLAWSON, MI — Rishi Joshi, 26, has been charged with animal neglect and cruelty as well as destruction of property after incidents that began with neighbors reporting hearing his puppy crying, WXYZ-TV reported. When police were called to Joshi's apartment on Sept. 26, the dog didn't move when they tried to engage it in play and howled in pain.

An emergency veterinarian in Madison Heights who examined the dog said it had two broken ribs and animal control officials took custody of the dog.

A female friend of Joshi's who had driven him to the veterinarian's office said that when she returned to his apartment the following day to pick up her car, it had been vandalized. Joshi reportedly admitted he was responsible and was charged with malicious destruction of property.

The dog is being treated for its injuries and will not be returned to Joshi unless the cruelty charges are cleared, police said. He repotedly admitted he may have stepped on the dog when he was drunk.

» For more on this story, go to WXYZ-TV.

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