A New York dog breeder was arraigned in Salem Superior Court on Thursday on 6 counts of animal cruelty.
The Essex County District Attorney’s office said the charges result from an investigation that started in November 2014 when two puppies were found dead at a Sunoco gas station in Revere.
Dominick Donovan pleaded not guilty.
Investigators accuse Donovan of killing the dogs at the Alpha Canine Performance Center in Lynn by hanging them by their collars from a cable.
A necropsy determined both dogs died of strangulation.
The district attorney said Donovan designed the breed "Donovan Pincher" and that the two dogs were killed because they didn’t meet his standard for the breed.
Judge Timothy Feeley set bail at $5,000 and ordered Donovan to stay away from witnesses in the case.
Alpha Canine Performance was owned by Donovan’s co-defendant, Jason Gentry.
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