Harwich woman accused of stabbing and killing sheep kept in ‘deplorable’ conditions, police say
A Harwich woman is facing more than a dozen animal cruelty charges after stabbing and killing sheep kept in “deplorable” conditions on her property, according to police.
Harwich police responded to Meredith Virpino’s home on Chatham Road on Tuesday after receiving a report of neglected sheep and dead animals on her property.
When an animal control officer and detective told Virpino the reason for the visit, the woman allegedly told the two officials that she had killed the sheep earlier that morning by stabbing them in the throat.
The officers went to the barn and found two sheep that had died from stab wounds to their throats. A third sheep had also been stabbed in the throat but was still alive, Harwich police said. The suffering goat was eventually euthanized by a veterinarian.
In addition to the sheep, the bodies of twelve more dead animals were found on the property.
“Conditions in the barn were deplorable and there was a lack of food and water,” Harwich police said.
Virpino was arraigned Wednesday morning in Orleans District Court on 15 counts of cruelty to an animal. She was released on $500 bail.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News App for the latest news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Tweet. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
