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An East Houma man faces animal cruelty charges in connection with the deaths of four puppies, two of whom had their heads cut off, city police said.
Richard Kevin Kiffe, 52, was booked into the Terrebonne Parish jail on four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and is awaiting bond.
According to Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis officers were called to the 300 block of Cleveland Street at around 7:07 p.m. Tuesday.
A woman met them there bearing the head of a puppy, which appeared to have been severed from its body with “a sharp cutting instrument.”
The woman told police she had argued with Kiffe, whom she said was her boyfriend. Before leaving to get away from Kiffe, the woman said, she asked him to take care of her dog and its pups.
Police were told she texted Kiffe who did not respond, and that she returned to the house at around 6:38 p.m. to check on the animals, finding the severed head of one. The woman then called police. The puppies, she said, were born Jan. 27, and although they could crawl around, they were too little to take care of themselves.
Once at the house officers interviewed Kiffe, who was described as having a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Kiffe, police said, told them he knew nothing about the puppies because he had been sleeping. He was arrested and taken to the Terrebonne Parish jail. The location of the three others puppies at that point was not known.
After officers left with Kiffe in custody, the woman called back and said she found the three other puppies, in a plastic bag under the couch. The head of one had also been cut off.
Each count of aggravated animal cruelty carries upon a conviction a fine of $5,000 to $25,000 and imprisonment from one to 10 years.
Aggravated cruelty to animals is defined as the torture, maiming, mutilation of malicious killing of more than one animal. Each is regarded as a separate offense.
