Narragansett Man Charged With Animal Cruelty

A report to Narragansett police about a dog bite on May 17 culminated in the confiscating of a dog and the arrest of Kevin Ralph, 34, of 42 Pettaquamscutt Ave., Narragansett, on June 5.

Ralph is charged with unnecessary cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor. He was arrested without incident after reporting to police headquarters.

(Note: Information about this arrest comes from a records request to Narragansett police. It was not initially included in the police logs for May or June, only the initial bite report.)

According to reports, on May 20 Narragansett Police Assistant Animal Control Officer Jennifer Choquette was informed of a dog bite on May 17.

The bite was reported secondhand to police by staff at South County Hospital. A 26-year-old North Kingstown woman told staff that the dog was “big and brown with a wrinkly face.”

No other information was provided to staff or police, Choquette said, and repeated calls to the victim went unanswered. As a result, the case appeared to be closed.

However, it was re-opened on May 25 at about noon. Choquette said the victim called an employee at the Rhode Island Department of Health. The employee called Choquette and asked her about the rabies vaccination status of the dog, at which point Choquette said she couldn't determine that because the victim wasn't cooperating.

Choquette called the victim again, at about 12:20 p.m., and was finally able to interview her. The victim allegedly told police that she didn't initially cooperate because “she didn't want to get her friend in trouble.”

The victim told Choquette that she had been at her friend's home, and her friend was watching a Shar Pei for a friend. When the victim reached to grab a piece of clothing, she said the dog bit her on the upper thigh, near her butt.

She initially wasn't worried about the bite, and went to work for the day. However, she said that between May 17 and May 25, she had received calls and texts from her friend, claiming that the dog might not be up to date on its vaccines, and also that it had had an altercation with another animal.

After Choquette told the victim about the danger of dog bites, Choquette said that she was finally given the phone number of the friend watching the dog.

The friend told Choquette that she and her family were watching the dog, and gave her address as a home on Lakeview Drive. However, when asked where the dog was, Choquette said the friend hung up on her.

Choquette said she called back to the house, at which point the friend's father picked up. After being told that his daughter wasn't in trouble, he told Choquette that someone at the house would know where the dog is now, and Choquette said she would come to the Lakeview Drive home. The friend also provided Choquette with the number of the dog's owner, who was identified as Ralph.

Choquette said she called Ralph at about 1 p.m. He allegedly told Choquette that the dog had not been to a vet recently, and that it had gotten into an altercation with another animal several years ago.

Based on the dog biting someone and its uncertain vaccination status, Choquette told Ralph it would need to be quarantined for 10 days.

At that point, Choquette said that Ralph told her the dog was very aggressive, and that it would “rip your arm off because he doesn't know you.” Ralph agreed that the victim's friend could help control the dog, but when asked for the address of where the dog was, Ralph hung up on Choquette.

Choquette said that because Ralph and the friend's family were generally uncooperative, she requested an officer to accompany her to the friend's house. She was met at the front door by an uncooperative family member, but after repeated requests, Choquette said that she was brought to the dog's home on Pettaquamscutt Avenue.

Two women were outside the residence and about to leave, Choquette said, claiming they “did not want to get involved.” They warned her that the dog was very aggressive, however, one agreed to help her muzzle the dog because it knew her.

Choquette noted that the dog was muzzled without incident, but it was very aggressive in its crate – it threw itself around with such force that it rotated the crate. The South Kingstown pound took the dog, and was warned of its aggressiveness.

However, about two days later on May 27, Choquette received word that their were health problems with the dog.

Choquette said that at about 8:40 a.m., a staffer at the pound called her and said that the dog had bloody diarrhea. The staffer also said that it had passed a 12-inch roundworm. Choquette verified the dog's status at 9:15 a.m., and advised a de-worming treatment.

At 10:50 a.m., Choquette received another call from the staffer, who said the dog's condition had gotten even worse. She responded again to the pound at 11:05 a.m., and noted that the dog was much worse.

Choquette described the dog as drooling and breathing heavily. She noted that there was bloody diarrhea in his kennel and caked into his fur, and he made no attempt to shake his body to get off resting flies.

Based on the dog's condition, it was brought to Ocean State Veterinary Services for treatment at about 12:30 p.m.

Choquette said that Dr. Kristi Thomas examined the dog and requested that it be admitted. According to Thomas, the dog was badly dehydrated, and had numerous infections because of neglectful and non-preventative care.

On May 28, Choquette picked the dog up from OSVS at about 6 p.m. Thomas told her that the dog could be returned to the pound for its rabies quarantine, which it was at about 8 p.m.

On May 29, Thomas called Choquette and told her she wanted to write a summary report about the dog's condition and welfare. Choquette picked up the report on May 30, and delivered it to Arthur Smith, the head animal control officer, at 2:30 p.m. for review for a possible arrest.

According to Smith, Ralph and another men were both arrested for outstanding warrants during a traffic stop on May 29. As a result, Smith said he talked to Ralph about his dog while he was detained, and warned him that criminal charges could be forthcoming.

Smith said that on May 30, he spoke with Choquette, read Thomas' supplemental report and spoke to an investigator at the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Based on information from the three sources, he decided that there was grounds to charge Ralph with cruelty to an animal.

According to Smith, he called Ralph shortly after 12:30 p.m. on May 30 to tell him he was being charged. Smith said Ralph got angry and uncooperative, and told Smith he wanted his dog back, swore several times, and then said he was going to be fishing and couldn't turn himself in. He then hung up on Smith.

Ralph did turn himself in though, on June 5, according to patrolman Kurt A. Gorter. He was processed and released at 2:35 p.m., and issued a court date for June 19.

According to the online court database provided by the Rhode Island Judiciary, Ralph has several no contest pleas dating back to 2001:

• On May 29, Ralph pleaded no contest to a Narragansett police charge of driving with a suspended license. He was ordered to pay a fine and court costs. (This was the charge that police had a warrant for when Ralph was arrested in late May and questioned by Smith.)
• In October 2007, Ralph pleaded no contest to a Bristol police charge of driving with a suspended license. He was ordered to pay a fine and court costs.
• In April 2004, Ralph pleaded no contest to a Warren police charge of domestic disorderly conduct. He was ordered to serve six months probation and a six-month suspended sentence, and to complete domestic violence counseling. In return for his plea, an additional charge of refusing to relinquish a telephone was dismissed.
• In April 2004, Ralph also pleaded no contest to a Newport police charge of felony drug possession. He was ordered to complete 18 months probation, 100 hours of community service and substance abuse counseling. In return for his plea, an additional charge of possession of marijuana was dismissed.
• In May 2001, Ralph pleaded no contest to a Newport police charge of obstruction of justice. He was ordered to serve a year of probation.
• In January 2001, Ralph pleaded no contest to Newport police charges of disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana. He was ordered to serve a year of probation and to complete domestic abuse counseling.