Local Group Protests Alleged Animal Abuser

When a Swampscott man with Salem ties was arraigned on animal cruelty charges in Chelsea District Court on Tuesday, members of Salem Saves Animals, a local group dedicated to changing animal abuse laws, were on hand as well.

“Salem Saves Animals did attend and protest for these poor dogs found in Revere,” said Salem Saves Animals founding member Lorelei Stathopoulos.

Stathopoulos said her group had some interactions with 34-year-old Jason Gentry in the past when he opened a kennel in Salem and that there were numerous red flags raised about they way he ran the kennel. She said her group talked to members of other rescue groups who also had concerns about the way Gentry trained dogs.

“When the two dogs showed up in Revere, (founding member) Leanne and I, who who are from Revere, were so upset and Salem Saves Animals put up a thousand dollars for any information (about the incident),” said Stathopoulos. “We just had the need to follow through and we started networking. Alpha Canine came up and both Leanne and I both felt he was somehow part of this.”

On Tuesday, Gentry was arraigned in Chelsea District Court on two counts each of malicious killing of an animal and animal cruelty.

A second man, Dominick Donovan, 51, of Long Beach, New York was taken into custody in New York and faces arraignment at a later date.

Gentry is due in court again on Sept. 13, and Stathopoulos said she hopes other animal rescue groups are on hand on thaty date to protest.

Gentry also plead not guilty last week on separate animal cruelty charges in Lynn District Court.