New Bedford Dog Rescued From Abuse Now Needs a New Home

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — New Bedford Police arrested a woman last week for allegedly beating her dog in the stairwell of an apartment building, and that dog is now looking for his new home.

Surveillance Video Leads to New Bedford Animal Cruelty Arrest

According to police, officers assisted New Bedford Animal Control on Thursday, October 8 with an investigation into a report of animal cruelty at an apartment on Barker’s Lane.

Surveillance footage from a stairwell showed a woman allegedly repeatedly striking and physically assaulting a small dog. The woman, identified as Female Mojica, 32, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

WARNING: This video contains disturbing footage of animal cruelty.

Police also said the dog, an eight-month-old, 15-pound poodle mix named Ace, was “found with visible bruising to his head and body, including a swollen eye socket.” Mojica surrendered the dog to Animal Control officers. He was taken to an animal hospital for treatment, and then later transferred to Forever Paws Animal Shelter in Fall River.

A Fresh Start Through Forever Paws

Forever Paws featured Ace – now renamed Puffin – on its Facebook page Tuesday evening, and he is now our Wet Nose Wednesday featured pet of the week as well.

“Since we’re giving him a new start, we gave him a new name as well,” Forever Paws wrote. “A fresh start, a fresh slate, and here's to new beginnings for this guy!”

What Puffin Needs in a Forever Family

Forever Paws said that “despite his past, Puffin is very much a typical puppy.” They noted he’s energetic, still needs help with his leash manners, and likes to bark. They called him a “three-ring circus all on his own.” They are asking for a family that does not live in an apartment with shared walls, and only has children 10 years old or older.

“He has been through some brutal trauma, and while he hasn't shown any lasting effects of that here, there is always the potential that something could trigger him,” Forever Paws wrote. “We're hoping that he's young enough that it will just be a bump in the road for him, but we need to set him up for success.”

Forever Paws Animal Shelter via Facebook

As she does with all of our featured dogs for Wet Nose Wednesday, Melissa Viera of MJ’s Pet Training Academy in Acushnet will offer free training sessions for whoever adopts Puffin to ensure he can make the proper adjustment to his new home and family.

If you are interested in adopting Puffin, you can download an application at ForeverPaws.com and once completed, mail it to fpas1@foreverpaws.com.