Taunton man charged with animal cruelty after emaciated puppy allegedly found in car

A Taunton man is facing animal cruelty charges after police say they discovered a severely emaciated puppy in his car during a routine traffic stop in West Bridgewater.

Devin Preeper, 27, was arraigned Tuesday in Brockton District Court on a felony charge of animal cruelty in connection with the severe malnourishment of his pug-mix puppy.

According to West Bridgewater police, an officer stopped Preeper’s vehicle around 11:49 a.m. on Nov. 24 after he allegedly ran a red light on North Main Street. While speaking with Preeper, the officer noticed what appeared to be a “significantly underweight dog” inside the car.

Police said the dog — a 9-month-old puppy named Sprout — was transported to Westbridge Veterinary Referral Hospital, where she received emergency medical care. Investigators later determined the dog belonged to Preeper and was severely malnourished.

According to a WCVB report, Preeper initially told police he had found the dog in Brockton the night before and had begun caring for her. Authorities allege he later admitted to owning the puppy for at least six months and being unable to properly care for her.

“I haven’t had the money, because I had a job, I don’t have a job anymore, [I’m] under a lot of stress because my girlfriend is pregnant,” Preeper said in body camera video, according to the media outlet.

Preeper also allegedly told police the dog had accidentally ingested birth control pills and UTI medication while under his care. He surrendered the dog and was informed that he would be formally charged.

“During the initial traffic stop, officers took steps to ensure the dog immediately received veterinary care,” police said in a statement. “Investigators then conducted a thorough follow-up investigation, including documenting the dog’s condition, gathering veterinary reports, and conducting follow-up interviews. During that investigation, West Bridgewater Police developed probable cause to charge Preeper.”

Following treatment, Sprout was transferred to the Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts (APCSM) in Brockton, where officials say her condition is slowly improving.

The APCSM has shared photos and video of Sprout on its website showing the puppy with bones visibly protruding from her body.

“She was so weak she could hardly lift her head or move her body freely,” rescuers wrote. They described her as “incredibly sweet” and said she seeks affection and closeness.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing. The APCSM is raising funds to support Sprout’s recovery, which includes diagnostic testing and bloodwork, medications and supplements, a carefully monitored nutritional plan, and continued follow-up visits.

Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.