Published January 14, 2015
Charles Berube, of Methuen (meh-THOO'-ehn), appeared in court Thursday. A jury trial is scheduled for Aug. 20.
Berube owned the dog, named Spot, for 10 years. Animal welfare investigators say the 53-year-old told them the animal had been sick for weeks and had lost a lot of weight. It had swollen legs and had trouble walking.
Berube says he did not want the animal to suffer and could not afford a veterinarian. He said he did not want to burden a shelter with the animal. It was killed last July.
His lawyer refused to comment.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/mass-man-kills-sick-dog-with-hammer-because-he-could-not-pay-vet-bills