New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Police arrested a 19-year-old New Bedford woman Wednesday, May 23 after she was reported hitting her dog in the head and body on West Beach near the bottom of Willard Street.
When police and animal control arrived, witnesses reported they had seen the woman hitting the dog in the head and body both on the beach and on the sidewalk. Witnesses said the woman told police she asked the dog to stay while she went into the water. When the dog disregarded her commanded and followed her to the water, she struck the dog with an open and closed fist, witnesses said, and the dog was cowering.
When police and animal control approached the woman, she became aggressive toward them and threatened them as they attempted to detain her.
Mikayla Alexis Goncalves, 19, of 25 Dudley St., New Bedford, was arrested on charges of animal cruelty, two counts of threatening to commit a crime and resisting arrest.
The dog, a three-year-old female pit bull, is in the custody of animal control. She was examined by a veterinarian after the incident and did not appear to be injured.
The incident was reported at about 5 p.m.
