DEC officials rescue dog after investigating alleged animal abuse

2 weeks ago

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TOWN OF ELLISBURG, N.Y. (WWTI) – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officers helped rescue a dog after an investigating into alleged animal abuse in late January in Jefferson County.

On Thursday, January 30, an environmental crimes investigator responded to a call from a concerned resident who reported finding the carcass of an animal believed to be a coyote near Skinner Road in the town of Ellisburg.

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The DEC investigator arrived at the location and determined it was a domestic dog that had been shot from the roadway. The next day, while following up with neighbors in the area, authorities observed a small black and white puppy wandering near the area where the dead dog was found.

An investigation led officers to the owner of both dogs and determined that the subject had been traveling through Jefferson County to either abandon the dogs or leave them with a friend when the larger of the two dogs jumped into his lap, causing the subject to crash his vehicle into a guardrail.

Investigators say the subject then allegedly shot and killed the larger dog out of anger. The subject was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, discharging a firearm over a public highway, abandonment of animals, and aggravated animal cruelty.

The alleged subject was arraigned in Jefferson County CAP Court and is being held in the Jefferson County Jail until a future court date in March. The DEC investigator managed to rescue the puppy found wandering in the area, and safely transported it to Jefferson County Animal Control office for a check-up and eventual rehoming.