A tragic incident at the Herkimer County Humane Society (HCHS) in New York has sent shockwaves through a community as a dog was found dead after being tied to the shelter’s front door late at night.
In a Facebook post shared on August 10, the shelter posted a picture of the dog before her death and detailed the devastating circumstances surrounding the her death.
The dog, who the shelter dubbed Betty, was left at the shelter in the late hours of August 8, just one day after seven abandoned cats were found in the shelter’s parking lot.
In their post, HCHS said: “A dog was tied to the front door at 11 p.m. and she died. It was dark and rainy that night.”
Left alone and vulnerable, when she was found the next day Betty—who they now know was called Bailey—had sadly died. The Humane Society emphasized that this act was not only disturbing but also avoidable, pointing out that the shelter is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing ample opportunity for pet owners to surrender animals safely.
A picture of the dog, since named Betty. She was left tied outside a rescue center in New York before she was tragically found dead. A picture of the dog, since named Betty. She was left tied outside a rescue center in New York before she was tragically found dead. Herkimer County Humane Society
“We made this story public because it is irresponsible and unfair to leave any pet abandoned anywhere, anytime,” the HCHS board of directors told Newsweek.
“The shelter has staff present seven days a week, 365 days a year to properly transfer ownership ensuring the safety and well being of the animal first and foremost, as well as provide pertinent information we need to gather to provide the pet with the best care possible.”
In 2023, 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, up 4 percent when compared to 2022 intakes. At the end of 2023, 117,000 additional dogs and cats were in the animal sheltering system compared to the same time the year before.
Of 2023 shelter intakes, 48% were stray, 18% were transfers from other shelters, 25% were relinquished by owners and 9% fell into an “other” category. As of 2024, one in four pet owners say they have considered rehoming their pet in the last 12 months.
Following the death of Betty, New York state police investigated and in a statement on August 13, said: “A preliminary investigation revealed a dog was tied up by a leash to the door of the Herkimer County Humane Society and left out in the rain on August 8, 2024, at about 11:00 p.m.
“Following an investigation, Troopers arrested Pedro A. Aquino, age 39, for NYS Agricultural & Markets Law 353-a Animal Cruelty, a class “A” misdemeanor. Aquino was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in the town of German Flatts Court on September 3, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.”
“It’s taken us a minute to recover enough from this traumatic experience to publicize this very disturbing and heartbreaking act,” HCHS said on Facebook. “Betty didn’t deserve this, do better.”
As well as sharing their sorrow and frustration over the incident, the shelter staff hoped sharing what happened would serve as a reminder about the abandonment of pets.
“Blatant desertion only subjects the pet to the unknown while unattended and places them in harms way. Betty is the perfect example of our position on this. Sadly she has paid the price with her life to prove this is wrong in every way,” HCHS said.
The Facebook update also provided information on seven cats abandoned the previous day. One of the cats, who was pregnant, required an emergency veterinary visit due to complications from an unattended labor that occurred overnight.
The shelter staff found her in distress the next morning and emphasized how critical it is for pet owners to provide necessary information when surrendering animals.
In the comments, the community responded, supporting the shelter and sharing their sorrow after the tragic event.
“Thank you for taking action… I don’t think the general public has an idea of the constant abandonment and cruelty many of these creatures endure,” commenter Margaret Cain said.
Irene Tooker wrote: “You all must be heartbroken and just sick from all of this. Please keep on going and helping all the animals that you care for, and know you are appreciated.”
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