Dorchester man charged with operating illegal kennel in basement

By Jacqueline Tempera |  Globe correspondent

 

Boston police rescued five mistreated dogs from the basement of a Dorchester home, where a man was allegedly operating an illegal kennel, prosecutors said.

Tracey Young, 22, pleaded not guilty Friday in Dorchester District Court to operating the kennel, resisting arrest, and five counts of cruelty to animals, authorities said.

Police responded at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday to a house on Glenrose Road in Dorchester to investigate a possible illegal apartment in the basement.

When they arrived, officers met a building inspector who had been sent to look at the residence.

Upon knocking on the basement door, they heard dogs barking, police said.

When Young opened the door, officers immediately smelled dog urine and feces, police said. They also observed three dirty cages, each occupied by a dog.

Because of the excessive barking and odors, officers asked Young, who said he lived in the basement, to step outside so they could investigate more thoroughly. He became agitated, police said.

Officers said they found an additional two apparently mistreated dogs in the basement.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston arrived at the scene and took the dogs to a shelter.

Tracey was released on his own recognizance after his arraignment.

He was ordered to stay away from animals and to stay away from Glenrose Street, said Jake Wark, a spokesman for Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.

Tracey was on probation for a charge of receiving stolen property last year, prosecutors said.
 
He is set to return to court March 12, prosecutors said.