York Town News
Police charge Rogers Road resident with killing cat
By Melissa Wood
YORK - Richard M. Dalli, 48, of 90 Rogers Road, has been charged with animal cruelty for allegedly killing a cat with a blunt object at his residence on April 4.York police found the cat on a bed after Dalli gave them permission to search the house from the hospital. The cat was allegedly struck with a hammer.
Police then called Animal Control Officer Thomas Porter, who responded to the scene and removed the deceased feline from Dalli's house. Porter also found a dog at the residence that was unharmed and took it to Creature Comforts animal shelter in Kittery.
"It's very sad," said Porter.
Since the charge is considered a civil offense, if found guilty Dalli faces a fine from $500 to $2,000, but no jail time.
Porter said a judge could also put restrictions on Dalli's ability to own pets and rule that he is not to possess any animals for a certain time period.
Porter said the dog was released from Creature Comforts shelter to a longtime family friend who paid the fine and is now taking care of the animal.
"It's best for the dog to be in a home setting," said Porter, who added that the dog would not be returned to Dalli unless and until he was proven fit to care for the animal.
Dalli is the son of the late Katherine "Kay" Dalli who wrote a letter on Feb. 21 to The Independent lamenting the death of a neighbor's dog that had been killed in a hit-and-run by a speeding car on Rogers Road.
Police could not confirm why Dalli was at the hospital and whether or not he is still there or at his residence.
Also found staying at the residence was James M. Cahill, 20, of P.O. Box 1566, York Beach, who was charged with violation of condition of release for not completing an alcohol treatment program.
Dalli is scheduled to appear in York District Court on June 7.
