Police removed 28 dogs from a Massachusetts home where prosecutors alleged years of sexual, mental and physical abuse of foster children occurred.
Raymond and Susan E. Blouin of 7 Pleasant Court, Oxford, each face a charge of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 following allegations made by former foster children.
Susan Blouin’s former boyfriend, Philip A. Paquette, also faces charges after he allegedly raped a boy twice, threatened the boy’s life and forced him to eat dog feces and his bodily fluids. The alleged abuse occurred at the Oxford home in the early 2000s.
It was while arresting Susan E. Blouin on Dec. 2 that officers discovered the dogs, mostly old English bulldogs and a few Labrador retrievers, according to Police Chief Anthony Saad.
Saad reported that officers at the home noticed “an overwhelming smell of dog feces and urine and heard several dogs barking.” Officers reported finding crates for roughly 20 dogs upstairs at the home, according to the chief.
But only one dog was registered for the property, and the couple did not have a kennel license, according to the chief.
Police, Animal Control Officer Kelly Flynn, and members of the Animal Rescue League returned to the home to investigate the treatment of the animals and removed 28 dogs from the house, Saad said.
He said investigators are awaiting a veterinary report to determine whether animal abuse charges will be filed.
Meanwhile, Flynn is preparing a civil complaint for running an unlicensed kennel facility.
Saad reported that all the animals are currently being cared for.
