A Massachusetts family's French bulldog, Charlie, died under mysterious circumstances while in the care of a Connecticut dog trainer. Josephine Ragland, 27, is facing felony charges for her role in the tragic incident. The North Reading family reported Charlie missing after Ragland failed to return the dog promptly following a two-week training session.
Ragland had introduced herself as "Lily" on the Thumbtack app, where the family found her services. They became alarmed when they discovered that Charlie had died while with her, according to a CBS News report. An autopsy later showed the dog had been emaciated at the time of his death.
In a bizarre twist Ragland continued, to send photos of Charlie participating in training activities after his death. She made numerous false or misleading statements to police when questioned about the death and the accompanying photos, according to a report in NBC Boston.
Mass Live reported that the incident led the North Reading Police Department to contact the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA). This led to the recovery of four other dogs from Ragland's care. The dogs have since been returned to their owners.
The complaint against Ragland includes details of similar incidents in California. She allegedly failed to return dogs to their owners or returned them in poor health, indicating potential neglect. Additionally, she is accused of falsely advertising her dog training services.
Ragland is set to be prosecuted in a Massachusetts district court. She is facing felony charges of larceny over $1,200 by false pretense and obstruction/misleading a police officer.
