Animal Cruelty Charge Brought Forward Against Greyhound Friends

Following a lengthy, collaborative investigation, the Animal Rescue League of Boston Law Enforcement Department has filed a criminal complaint against the Director of the Greyhound Friends of Hopkinton for animal cruelty. Greyhound Friends is located at 167 Saddle Hill Road Hopkinton. Louise Coleman of Sherborn has been charged with a felony count of animal cruelty in the Framingham District Court due to the alleged conditions at the kennel.

This charge is the result of an ongoing multi jurisdictional investigation involving the Animal Rescue League of Boston Law Enforcement Department, Hopkinton Police Department Detectives, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the Department of Agricultural Resources, and the Hopkinton Animal Control Officer. According to Lt. Alan Borgal of the The Animal Rescue League of Boston, “the criminal charges are being brought forth after numerous inspections revealed continuous unsanitary conditions at the Greyhound Friend's kennel facility”.

The Department of Agricultural Resources has ordered a cease and desist on the Greyhound Friends Hopkinton facility. The kennel license is currently under suspension from the Town of Hopkinton. All of the dogs under the care of the organization at the Hopkinton kennel have been monitored by the Hopkinton Animal Control Officer, Dept. of Agricultural Resources and the Animal Rescue League since the investigation began. The conditions at the kennel will continue to be monitored.

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Brian Herr has stated that, “Animal neglect or cruelty will not be tolerated in Hopkinton. Every allegation will be thoroughly investigated and any person believed to have committed abuse or neglect will be prosecuted”.

The Hopkinton Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall. The hearing will be held to determine ​whether​ ​the​ ​kennel​ ​is​ ​being​ ​maintained​ ​in​ ​a​ ​sanitary​ ​and​ ​humane​ ​manner and/or​ ​if​ ​records​ ​are​ ​properly​ ​kept​ ​as​ ​required​ ​by​ ​law,​ ​and​ ​may​ ​order,​ ​revoke​ ​or suspend​ ​the​ ​license​ ​for​ ​the​ ​kennel​ ​if​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​determination​ ​is​ ​not​ ​made.​
All questions about this investigation should be directed to District Attorney Marian Ryan's Office at (781) 897-8325.