Man Arrested in Illegal Dog Importation Case

Wagner was in possession of seven nine-week-old Labrador retriever puppies when he was arrested. DEM says they were dehydrated and infested with worms.

A Massachusetts man has been arrested for allegedly illegally importing dogs into Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said Tuesday that 30-year-old Justin Wagner, of Fall River, Massachusetts, is facing charges of importing dogs into the state without valid certificates and operating a pet shop without a license.

DEM says it was notified that a company called Loyal Labs had advertised puppies for sale on Facebook.

DEM says officials confirmed the company wasn't licensed in Rhode Island and the puppies were from Pennsylvania.

Wagner was in possession of seven nine-week-old Labrador retriever puppies when he was arrested. DEM says they were dehydrated and infested with worms.

Wagner is currently on probation for animal cruelty charges in Massachusetts.

He's scheduled to be arraigned on the new charges Feb. 15.

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