Mass. Man Accused of Stabbing Dog to Death After Trying to Poison Animal with Fentanyl

Police allege Jonathan Paluzzi killed his healthy dog after he was unable to get the animal euthanized

• Jonathan Paluzzi, 44, faces charges of animal cruelty and possession of a controlled substance

• Police in Kingston, Mass., found the dog deceased, with stab wounds, inside an apartment on Wednesday

• The suspect allegedly stabbed his dog to death after an unsuccessful attempt at poisoning the animal with fentanyl

A Massachusetts man was arrested this week after police accused him of stabbing his dog to death after first attempting to poison the animal.

Jonathan Paluzzi, 44, faces multiple counts of animal cruelty and possession of a controlled substance, according to a press release shared by the Kingston Police Department.

On Wednesday afternoon, police officers responded to an apartment complex in Kingston, about 35 miles south of Boston, after a 911 caller reported hearing a dog whining and other noises, followed by complete silence, coming from a neighboring apartment.

Once inside, officers found a deceased dog with stab wounds. The animal was identified as Brutus, a Bull Terrier mix weighing approximately 60 lbs. Police said they saw blood at the scene and recovered a set of bent grill prongs believed to be the weapon used to stab the dog.

Investigators also spoke with Paluzzi, who claimed he was unable to find anyone who would take Brutus or euthanize him, even though the dog was reportedly healthy, the release alleges.

As a result, police alleged Paluzzi obtained fentanyl Tuesday night and tried to poison the dog with the narcotic Wednesday afternoon.

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“After [Paluzzi] was unsuccessful in killing the animal, [Paluzzi] reportedly stabbed Brutus to death before leaving the apartment,” police claimed in the release.

By the time police arrived at the scene, Paluzzi had returned and was taken into custody. According to police, the suspect was allegedly found with a cigarette pack containing an “off-white powdery residue” believed to be fentanyl. Police also claimed Paluzzi had a red-brown stain around his fingernail, which was reportedly consistent with blood.

“The hideous nature of this case has the undivided attention of the assigned investigators,” police said. “The investigation will remain on-going to collect all relevant evidence and we will work closely with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office to ensure the successful prosecution of the suspect in this case.”

According to police, Paluzzi was being held on a “significant bail amount” and was expected to be arraigned in Plymouth District Court on Thursday. It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

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