No Bail For Lowell Man That Killed Peabody Woman's Puppy

PEABODY, MA -- A Lowell man accused of beating and struggling his girlfriend's dog was ordered held without bail by a Peabody District Court Judge, pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for later this week. Jeremy M. Picchierri, 31, of Lowell, was arrested after his fiancee went to the Peabody Police Station Sunday claiming Picchierri had killed Jack, her five-month-old Golden Retriever puppy.

The Peabody woman said Picchierri had called her at work several times Saturday reporting that the dog was convulsing and vomiting. She said he was initially reluctant to take the dog to the Bulger Animal Hospital in North Andover because he had smacked the dog and was afraid he would be charged with animal cruelty. A veterinarian at the hospital later told Picchieri's fiancee that the dog's injuries were consistent with beating and strangulation.

Picchierri was arrested Monday in Burlington, where he works at Oracle. He had been staying at his fiancee's apartment on Walnut Street in Peabody. Picchierri's attorney denied the charges on behalf his client during his arraignment Tuesday and questioned whether the charges of threatening and animal cruelty warranted a dangerousness hearing.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).