Animal Cruelty Case Prompts Northborough Vigil

When Lyn Gorka heard about the "Puppy Doe"  animal cruelty case, she was most struck by "the brutal behavior that one person could bestow on an innocent animal."

A vigil in Northborough on Saturday grew out of that reaction.

The vigil for "Puppy Doe" is at 4:30 p.m. at Ellsworth-McAfee Park, on Route 135.

Gorka, of Marlborough, is among the organizers of the event, which will include speakers and performances.

Kiya, a pit bull dubbed “Puppy Doe” by those who found her, was found in a park in Quincy last month. She had been brutally tortured and left for dead, and because of extensive injuries, had to be euthanized.

Police, following many leads, have arrested a man they believe is connected to the crime.

"What I would like to see people get out of this vigil is that they will think twice about giving their pets away and not thinking about the person taking the dog," Gorka said in an e-mail interview. "When in doubt, call a shelter."

"I also think people will realize how hard our law enforcement officers work to capture a person of this kind and how persistent the Quincy Police and DA were on this case."