Woman Tied Up, Beaten and Forced to Watch Boyfriend Beat Her Dog to Near Death

Nearly two weeks ago,  a Massachusetts woman and her 3 year old Spaniel mix, Cooper, were tied up and beaten overnight with the dog getting the worst of it.   When it was over,  Cooper sustained life-threatening injuries including severe damage to his kidneys.   He is battling acute kidney failure.

He has injuries over his body.  His liver may have been affected by the attack.   Cooper is currently receiving dialysis for the kidney failure.

“I’m devastated,” she said. “That’s, like, my child. I feel incredibly guilty that this happened to him. There was nothing I could do to protect him.”

The woman says she is a complete mess mentally.

Matthew Devaney, 29,  was charged with assault, kidnapping, and animal cruelty.

The cost of dialysis is quite expensive and a friend of the woman set up a GoFundMe page to help defray the costs.  As of today over $18,000 has been raised.   The total cost could be as much as $25,000 a news report said.

The woman says she was tied up, attacked and had to watch as her dog was beaten up, as well.

“I’m bruised and sore,” she said. “Unfortunately, my dog got more of the attack than I did.

The woman says it began over a simple argument over household chores.   “What he did to me, and especially my dog, is disgusting,” the woman said.   “It was the most traumatizing experience of my life.” “I wish that nobody ever has to experience that.”   The woman adopted Cooper as a puppy from a rescue shelter several years ago and has relied on him and her other dog, a 3-year-old terrier-hound mix named Callie, through tough times.   Callie was not injured in the attack.  “He’s like my child – both of them are.”  “He and my other dog got me through a really hard time in my life previous to this and they mean a lot to me.  If I didn’t have my dogs during that period, it would have made my life a lot harder.”

The following is the latest update (6/12) from the GoFundMe page,

Cooper received his second dialysis treatment yesterday. He is responding well to treatment, however his kidney levels are still high so we are still unsure how many he will need. They plan on giving him today off from treatments to see how his kidneys do on their own, and will give another tomorrow or Tuesday. He is a little more alert, but still very far from his normal happy self. The edema in his legs has reduced significantly. He seems to be trending in the right direction, and pray he continues. With that said, we have thought thing were getting better just to have our hopes crushed soon after that things weren’t getting better. PLEASE keep praying for Cooper, and sharing this page. Goal being updated bc the dialysis has started without knowing how much is needed, not to mention aftercare from this attack once he is able to go home. Valerie asked me to let everyone know that any funds collected that are in excess of what Cooper will need will be donated back to organizations to domestic violence and animal cruelty. We also have had requests on where to send money directly. Cooper is at Tufts Animal Hospital.

Checks can be mailed to :
Cummings Veterinary Medical Center:accounting
55 Willard St
North Grafton, MA 01536
Made out to “Trustees of Tufts”

The link between domestic abuse and animal abuse is undeniable.   Many abusers have threatened to hurt their victim’s pets.   A new law adopted by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2012 allows judges to award custody of a pet to victims of domestic violence and prohibit their alleged abusers from abusing, threatening or taking the animal. A 6-year-old Labrador from Marshfield became the first dog in the state to receive protection under the law after its owner, a 38-year-old Marshfield woman, sought a restraining order against her boyfriend in Plymouth District Court.

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