REVERE — State Police are investigating the death of a dog on Revere Beach after the animal’s co-owner and witnesses offered different accounts to troopers.
Shortly after noon Sunday, troopers stationed at the Revere barracks on the beach responded to a report of an injured dog in the vicinity of the Shirley Avenue bathhouse.
Responding troopers found Department of Conservation and Recreation lifeguards and Revere firefighters attempting to resuscitate a small Chihuahua mix that was in severe medical distress. Efforts to save the dog were unsuccessful.
According to a State Police statement posted online, troopers interviewed the dog’s co-owner, a 57-year-old Saugus woman, who said she had taken the dog into the water when he suddenly became stricken and apparently drowned.
After the woman was allowed to leave with the dog’s body, several beachgoers approached troopers and said they had witnessed the woman abuse the dog before it died.
Based on that information, troopers are summonsing the woman for various animal-cruelty charges. The woman was not arrested because she left the scene before investigators learned witnesses had seen her allegedly abuse the dog.
Spokesman David Procopio said State Police do not release the names of individuals summonsed to court until they appear before a judge.
Troopers, working with the law enforcement division of the Animal Rescue League, were able to retrieve the dog’s body this morning from the co-owner, a Chelsea man.
The investigation into the dog’s death is ongoing at this time.