Illegal Kennel Discovered in Condemned House
www.theBostonChannel.com
January 6, 2004--A
Roxbury house was condemned Monday after police discovered what they're
calling an illegal kennel inside the home where five adults, two children,
and nearly a dozen dogs were living. NewsCenter 5's Jorge Quiroga reported
that police responding to a shooting outside the home Sunday found
deplorable living conditions in the home.
The wooden house on Parrin Street was quickly boarded up and condemned by
city inspectors. "It shouldn't have been lived in. It had no heat. It had no
hot water. It had no toilet facilities. It didn't meet the basic standards
for human livability," Inspectional Services Commissioner Kevin Joyce said.
Robert Ryan, 32, was charged with shooting two men outside the building --
one in the arm, the other in the leg. While searching the house, police
found six other tenants, including a bed-ridden, 86-year-old woman and two
children, 5 and 4 years old.
In the basement, officials found dog fighting equipment and 10 pit bulls
that appeared scarred from earlier fights.
"The dogs, I am told by animal control people, were not in good condition.
They were chained. They had a lot of scratches and bruises. They were
removed and the people were removed. The house was boarded and secured,"
Joyce said.
The dogs were sent to an animal rescue league. The tenants were relocated
with friends and relatives.
Ryan was held on $75,000 bail while the investigation continued.
