New Bedford man convicted again for animal cruelty in Dartmouth case

A New Bedford man previously convicted of animal cruelty has been found guilty again following a retrial in New Bedford District Court, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn.

Gregory Ostiguy, 57, was convicted July 28 of one count of animal cruelty for an incident that occurred in Dartmouth in 2018. He was sentenced to one year in the Bristol County House of Correction. However, the sentence was deemed already served, as Ostiguy had previously been convicted and sentenced in March 2021 for the same offense.

The most recent trial was granted because the court determined Ostiguy had not received a full explanation of his rights during the original 2021 proceeding.

The case stems from a May 18, 2018, incident in Dartmouth, when police responded to reports of a man striking a dog with a baseball bat near Colonial and Slocum roads. Officers found Ostiguy at the scene and were told he had become frustrated after his dog ate his lunch.

Multiple Dartmouth residents told police they saw Ostiguy hit the tan pit bull, named Harley, several times with a wooden bat. The dog was treated at a local veterinary hospital for a cheek laceration caused by external trauma, according to veterinary staff.

After his 2021 conviction for animal cruelty, Ostiguy was also indicted and later sentenced to three and a half to seven years in state prison for threatening two probation officers in New Bedford District Court.

“This is outrageous behavior from a defendant who has a history of violent conduct. Fortunately, he was convicted by the court after a second trial was required,” Quinn said.