‘Trainer’ who Killed Famous Poker Player’s Dog Won’t Face Prison

• Dog trainer sentenced after French Bulldog’s tragic, preventable death.
• Ragland lied to owners, hiding cruelty and neglect.
• Court case exposes repeated animal abuse across multiple states.
  

  ---

A Connecticut “dog trainer” who caused the death of poker player Bart Hanson’s French Bulldog, has been spared a prison sentence, The Middletown Press reports.

Instead, a Connecticut court judge handed Josephine Ragland a two-year suspended sentence after she pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty on August 29, according to court records.

Hanson, a well-known poker player and coach from North Reading, Mass. who has more than $1 million in tournament winnings, connected with Ragland in August 2023 when he responded to an ad she had posted for her dog training service.

The Hanson family wanted someone to teach their bulldog, Charlie, some basic commands, and Ragland’s business, Everything Animals, seemed to tick all the boxes.

Happy Dog Illusion

Using a false name, Ragland picked up Charlie for a two-week boarding program. Throughout that time, she sent the Hansons reassuring photos and videos, even though Charlie had already died within the first few days.

Charlie passed away just three to five days into his stay, according to investigators. He had been kept in a crate with no food or water, most likely dying of heatstroke.

Ragland later admitted to police she had been on a multiple-day casino bender when she was supposed to have been looking after Charlie.

Police found Charlie’s body in Norwich, Conn., more than 35 minutes from Ragland’s home, where it had been dumped by Hagland’s mother, Jacqueline Witt.

Witt, 65, accepted a plea bargain August 13 that saw her convicted of three counts of cruelty to animals.

Canine Imposter

Ragland also faces charges in California where she is alleged to have taken a seven-year-old German Shepherd, Scott, into her care in December 2022 for another two-week training course.

On the day she was supposed to return Scott, she turned up with a different German Shepherd, which she tried to pass off as Scott, according to the dog’s owner, Carolina Bruchilari.

In all, Ragland was accused of cruelty to animals in four instances in New England and may still face charges in California.

“It’s been nearly two years since my French Bulldog passed away in the care of a fraudulent dog trainer, Josephine Ragland,” Hanson wrote on X August 31. “Today brings closure to his death. Thank you all for your support. RIP Charlie.”