Thomas Caparco

Punching and kicking a seeing eye dog

East Providence, RI

June & Aug. 1994

Thomas Caparco, age 46 had been charged with cruelty to animals. He was observed by several witnesses of kicking, slapping, choking and swearing at his Seeing Eye dog 2-year-old yellow Labrador, named Loggins.

Caparco is blind, but Judge Michael Higgins ordered the dog taken away from him after he was accused of beating the dog a second time. Caparco is on trial for the same charge already. The dog was placed in the custody of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

5 witnesses were expected to testify against Caparco in court. One of whom was a cabdriver who said he saw the man punch his dog several times during a cab ride to a bar.

In September 1994 a district court judge threw out the animal cruelty charge and allowed Caparco to regain custody of his Seeing Eye dog.

Reference:

The Boston Globe