Puppy Doe Archives - i Still Love Dogs

Monster Who Tortured Puppy Doe Sentenced to Up to 10 Years in Prison

One of the most disturbing cases of animal abuse that I’m aware of was that of Puppy Doe, a young Pit Bull who was given away by her original owners when their landlord decided to ban the breed due to high insurance rates.

Puppy Doe, also known as Kiya, eventually ended up with Radoslaw Czerkawski, a Polish national living illegally in the U.S. on an expired work visa. Czerkawski starved the puppy and inflicted upon her what a veterinarian described as medieval-style torture. This monster systematically pulled her joints apart one by one, split her tongue in half, stabbed her in the eye and burned her. When the 95-year-old woman he was living with and a caregiver for died in August 2013, Czerkawski dumped the puppy in a wooded area.

When a good Samaritan found Puppy Doe, she thought the dog had been hit by a car due to the severity of her injuries. Tragically, Puppy Doe had to be euthanized, but during her final hours she was shown what it’s like to be loved by the caring staff of the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Czerkawski was arrested after Puppy Doe’s blood splatter was found in the elderly woman’s home. His cell phone records indicated he had bought the dog from her second owner via a Craigslist ad. He was charged with 12 counts of animal cruelty, and he was later convicted of a larceny charge for stealing more than $130,000 from the elderly woman.

The animal cruelty trial was originally set for early 2015, but it was repeatedly postponed.

Finally, nearly five years after Puppy Doe’s horrific ordeal, Czerkawski’s trial began earlier this month in Dedham, Mass. And, finally, there is some justice for Puppy Doe: This week the jury found Czerkawski guilty of all 12 counts of animal cruelty.

Although the judge could have sentenced Czerkawski to 55 years in prison, he was sentenced to only eight to 10 years, followed by two years of probation. Also, Czerkawski cannot ever own, care for, or come in contact with any animal, or volunteer where animals are present.

Czerkawski is already serving time for the larceny charge, so he could be out of prison in just a few years. Still, the Animal Rescue League of Boston called the sentencing “a historic day for animal welfare in Massachusetts.”

“With the conviction and sentencing of Radoslaw Czerkawski, it has been demonstrated that people who commit animal cruelty, and in this case extreme cruelty, will be held accountable,” it stated on its Facebook page. “Ironically Puppy Doe’s short and tragic life was the impetus for stronger laws protecting all animals in the Commonwealth–and there’s still more work to do.”

Thanks to poor Puppy Doe, animal cruelty laws have been strengthened in Massachusetts since Czerkawski was arrested back in 2013. The maximum sentence for a first offense, which used to be five years, increased to seven years. Subsequent offenses have a maximum sentence of 10 years. The fines were raised from $2,500 for a first offense to $5,000, and up to $10,000 for subsequent offenses.

While eight to 10 years doesn’t seem like nearly long enough for what that despicable monster did to Puppy Doe, at least her case will hopefully prevent other animals from suffering so much cruelty.

Rest in peace, Kiya.

Photo: Animal Rescue League of Boston

Trial Finally Begins in Horrific ‘Puppy Doe’ Abuse Case

UPDATE: Radoslaw Czerkawski was found guilty of all 12 charges of animal cruelty and sentenced to eight to 10 years in prison.

As I wrote on this blog back in 2014, one of the most horrific and disturbing animal abuse cases I’d ever written about was that of a young Pit Bull called Puppy Doe. Four years later, this still remains true. And now, finally, there may soon be justice for this tortured puppy. The trial of her alleged abuser, Radoslaw Czerkawski, began today in Dedham, Mass.

If you’re unfamiliar with the sad tale of Puppy Doe, here’s her story. When she was known as Kiya, her original owners gave her away via a Craigslist ad when their landlord decided to ban Pit Bulls due to high insurance rates. Kiya eventually ended up with Radoslaw Czerkawski, who allegedly starved her and inflicted what the Boston Herald called “medieval-style torture” on the helpless dog. This monster systematically pulled her joints apart, split her tongue in half, stabbed her in the eye and burned her.

Czerkawski, a Polish national living illegally in the U.S. on an expired work visa, was the live-in caretaker for an elderly woman with dementia in Quincy, Mass. When the woman died in late August 2013, Czerkawski dumped Kiya in a nearby wooded area. She was discovered by someone who thought she’d been hit by a car, because her injuries were so severe.

Tragically, Kiya had to be euthanized due to the extent of her injuries. Her final hours were spent being pampered and loved by the staff of the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Two months later, Czerkawski was arrested after Kiya’s blood splatter was found in the elderly woman’s home. His cell phone records indicated he had bought Kiya from her second owner via a Craigslist ad. He was charged with 12 counts of animal cruelty along with a larceny charge for stealing more than $100,000 from the elderly woman. His trial was originally set for early 2015, but has been repeatedly postponed.

In the meantime, thanks to poor “Puppy Doe,” animal cruelty laws have been strengthened in Massachusetts. The maximum sentence for a first offense, which used to be five years, increased to seven years. Subsequent offenses have a maximum sentence of 10 years. The fines were raised from $2,500 for a first offense to $5,000, and up to $10,000 for subsequent offenses.

“It’s almost like we’re in this period in animal cruelty that’s ‘before Puppy Doe’ and ‘after Puppy Doe,’” Rob Halpin, spokesman for MSPCA-Angell, told the Boston Globe in 2014. “Puppy Doe made a large and permanent crack in the status quo.”

Potential Jurors Asked About Their Opinions of Pit Bulls

Four and a half years after “Puppy Doe” was tortured, selection of the 16-member jury for Czerkawski’s trial in the Norfolk Superior Court began Tuesday. To keep protesters away during the jury selection and trial, a 500-foot buffer zone patrolled by police has been set up around the courthouse. Six Puppy Doe supporters, including Deanna Terminiello, director of the group Pawsitively Puppy Doe, were allowed to sit in the courtroom.

“We don’t want to cause any problems. We do want to follow the judge’s orders. We don’t want to potentially cause a mistrial in this case,” Terminiello told WCVB.

The first day of jury selection, which the Boston Herald called an “arduous” process, 52 prospective jurors were dismissed because they’d either already formed an opinion of the case, were biased about it or had seen pretrial publicity regarding Puppy Doe.

The potential jurors were apparently asked to say something good about Pit Bulls, which really bothers me — did Kiya’s breed have anything to do with the fact that she was tortured? Yet Kiya would probably be alive today if her original owners didn’t have to give her up because of their landlord’s high insurance rates. As I wrote for Care2.com, it’s a sad and very unfair fact that most major insurance companies won’t provide home insurance to owners of Pit Bulls (or Rottweilers, Dobermans or other “dangerous” breeds).

The jury selection process ended Wednesday. “Two of the seven selected jurors own dogs — one of them a puppy,” the Boston Herald reports. “And while remaining silent when afforded the chance to volunteer something good about pit bulls, four later told the court they blame bad owners for bad canine behavior.”

During the selection process, the Boston Herald reports that Czerkawski dozed off, stared into space and barely glanced at the jury pool when told to do so by his attorney, Larry Tipton.

Trial to Last 3 Weeks

The trial is expected to last about three weeks. Opening arguments began this morning, according to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office. About 50 witnesses are expected to take the stand, including police officers, animal control officers and shelter staff.

“I think it’s going to be horrendous to listen to,” Terminiello told the Boston Herald. “We’ve all been so extremely emotional. It’s caused mental distress for so many. I can’t even tell you how many people have gone through depression and anxiety because of this case, including myself.”

The maximum sentence Czerkawski is facing is 55 years in prison. As Terminiello told WCVB, “You know, it still doesn’t bring her back, but we do get some justice.”

Photo: Animal Rescue League of Boston

Puppy Doe’s Legacy: Tougher Animal Cruelty Laws in Massachusetts

UPDATE: In March 2018, Radoslaw Czerkawski was found guilty of all 12 charges of animal cruelty and sentenced to eight to 10 years in prison.

One of the most horrific and disturbing animal abuse cases I’ve ever written about was that of Kiya, a young Pit Bull better known as Puppy Doe.

Kiya’s original owners had given her away via a Craigslist ad when their landlord decided to ban Pit Bulls due to high insurance rates. She eventually ended up with Radoslaw Czerkawski, who starved her and inflicted what the Boston Herald called “medieval-style torture” on the helpless dog — he systematically pulled her limbs apart, split her tongue in half, stabbed her in the eye and burned her.

Czerkawski, a Polish national living in the U.S. on an expired work visa, was the live-in caretaker for an elderly woman with dementia in Quincy, Mass. When the woman died in late August 2013, Czerkawski dumped Kiya in a nearby wooded area. She was discovered there by someone who thought she’d been hit by a car — her injuries were that severe.

This was “unquestionably … hands down” the worst case of animal cruelty she’d ever witnessed, Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore, vice president of animal welfare at the Animal Rescue League of Boston, told the Boston Herald.

“When I saw how vulnerable she was and I understood immediately the duration of her suffering, my heart collapsed,” she said.

Kiya’s injuries were so extreme that she had to be euthanized. But first she was treated to a feast and lots of loving attention from Smith-Blackmore and her staff.

“Within hours of being found she had pain medication, food and love,” Smith-Blackmore told the Herald. “She experienced some tenderness and some care at the end of her life.”

Czerkawski was charged with 12 counts of animal cruelty. He was also slapped with a larceny charge for stealing more than $100,000 from the elderly woman.

A trial date for the animal cruelty charges will be set Nov. 7, the Boston Herald reported today.

In the meantime, “Puppy Doe’s” tragic ordeal has led to legislation for tougher animal cruelty laws in Massachusetts.

Governor Deval Patrick is expected to sign a bill that will increase prison sentences and fines for animal abusers; require veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse to authorities; and create a task force that will review how the state handles animal abuse cases.

The maximum sentence for a first offense, which is currently five years, will increase to seven years. Subsequent offenses would have a maximum sentence of 10 years. The fines will be raised from $2,500 for a first offense to $5,000, and up to $10,000 for subsequent offenses.

“These are felonies, these are very serious crimes, and I think the penalties should reflect that,” Mary Nee, president of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, told the Boston Globe.

Until the bill was created, “animal rescue and welfare organizations were steadily working to chip away at animal cruelty in the state, largely unnoticed,” Rob Halpin, spokesman for MSPCA-Angell, told the Globe.

“It’s almost like we’re in this period in animal cruelty that’s ‘before Puppy Doe’ and ‘after Puppy Doe,’” he said. “Puppy Doe made a large and permanent crack in the status quo.”

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