New Bedford Man Convicted of Beating Dog Over Burger King Whopper

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — A New Bedford man has been convicted of animal cruelty for beating his dog with a baseball bat back in 2018 for eating his Burger King Whopper.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, Gregory Ostiguy, 57, of New Bedford was convicted on July 28 of animal cruelty in New Bedford District Court. He was sentenced to serve one year in the Bristol County House of Correction.

However, that sentence was deemed served, the D.A.’s Office said, because Ostiguy had been previously convicted and sentenced to one year in the House of Correction back in March 2021 for the same charge. He was granted a new trial “after the court determined that he had not received a full explanation of his rights from the Court in March of 2021,” according to the D.A.’s Office.

Details of the 2018 Animal Cruelty Incident

On May 18, 2018, Dartmouth Police responded to the area of Colonial Road and Slocum Road for reports of a man standing outside of his Jeep, beating a dog with a baseball bat. Police arrived to find Ostiguy “in an agitated state,” and he said he was frustrated because his pit bull “Harley” had eaten his lunch, reportedly a Whopper from Burger King.

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Multiple witnesses reported to police that they had seen Ostiguy strike the dog numerous times with a wooden bat. Animal Control transported the dog to a local veterinary hospital for treatment of a cheek laceration.

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Past Threats and Criminal History

Ostiguy was convicted in 2021 for beating his dog, and later was indicted in Fall River Superior Court for threatening two male probation officers in New Bedford District Court. According to WJAR, Ostiguy left voicemails threatening “biological warfare” and that the officers had been “warned.” He reportedly had a history of making threats as well.

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Ostiguy was convicted of those charges and sentenced to serve three and a half to seven years in state prison.

District Attorney’s Statement on the Case

"This is outrageous behavior from a defendant who has a history of violent conduct,” Quinn said. “Fortunately, he was convicted by the court after a second trial was required.”