Dorchester man gets prison term after pleading guilty mid-trial to animal cruelty charges
BOSTON, June 9, 2026 – A Dorchester man pleaded guilty in the middle of his animal cruelty trial today and was sentenced to up to four years in state prison, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
JAVIER RUPERTO, 46, of Dorchester pleaded guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to five counts of animal cruelty (subsequent offense) and one count of keeping or promoting an animal fight.
Judge Sarah Ellis sentenced Ruperto to three to four years in state prison followed by three years of probation, during which Ellis ordered Ruperto to have no possession of animals, to not care for or train dogs, and to not engage in any animal fighting.
Evidence in Ruperto’s jury trial began Thursday.
On April 14, 2021, Boston police responded to Toledo Terrace for shots fired. Officers found ballistic damage to the front of 5 Toledo Terrace and what appeared to be blood on the front porch. Police tried to enter the residence to check for injuries. Ruperto, who lived in the first-floor apartment, refused to let police in. Police were let into the home by a family member who lived in a separate apartment.
While searching the house for a possible shooting victim police found seven pit bulls in Ruperto’s apartment, with five in crates and two roaming free. Two other pit bulls were found chained in the backyard. In the basement officers found another pit bull with untreated injuries. Though awake, the dog did not move or react to the officers’ presence. Officers found multiple dog treadmills in the basement.
An investigation later revealed that the shots-fired call originated from an unrelated non-fatal shooting in the area.
On April 17, 2021, Boston police, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Boston Animal Care and Control executed a search warrant at Ruperto’s home and located five pitbulls.
Three of the dogs were inside small crates lined with shredded newspaper, littered with feces, and with no food or water. The other two were outside in heavy chains, inadequate shelter and no food or water. The weather that day was about 38 degrees, raining, and windy. Officers recovered pedigree- and dogfighting-related paperwork, a wooden treadmill, a weighted harness and collar, a “flirt pole” commonly used in training dogs for fighting, and two photo albums containing various photos of pit bulls and breeding.
An animal fighting expert with Humane World for Animals, formerly called Humane Society International, reviewed the seized evidence and concluded that Ruperto’s dogs were owned, trained, and promoted for animal fighting, with the intent that some or all would be used in fighting or in breeding fighting dogs.
Ruperto has a history of keeping animals for fighting. Ruperto, known as “Dr. Dog” in dogfighting circles, was convicted of animal cruelty in Dorchester BMC in 1998.
“Anyone who owns or loves dogs would be appalled at the thought that they could be subjected to such cruelty, and even worse, bred and trained to inflict terrible harm upon each other for the enjoyment of spectators. But it happens, and I’m grateful that this offender is being held accountable for his role in making it happen,” Hayden said.
In January 2024 Hayden created the Suffolk County Animal Cruelty Task Force, a multi-agency initiative aimed at reducing abuse of animals and coordinating efforts to bring abusers to justice. Members include the police and animal control departments in Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop, the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, the Animal Rescue League and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Those reporting animal abuse should call the ARL hotline at (617) 426-9170 x110 or email cruelty@arlboston.org or the MSPCA hotline at (617) 522-6008 or (800) 628-5808.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Our office handles more than 20,000 cases a year. Nearly 160 assistant district attorneys practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Boston and Chelsea Juvenile Courts and the Supreme Judicial Court. Our office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs for anyone encountering the criminal justice system. We are committed to educating the public about our mission and services while focusing on crime prevention to keep the residents, workers and visitors of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications