PETA Offers Up To $5,000 Reward For Info On Dog Abandonment Case

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is offering up to $5,000 for information that will lead to the arrest of the person(s) who abandoned a dog with bone cancer on the side of the road on January 25.

The Cane Corso, later named Barney, was spotted on the side of Route 23 in Copake by a passerby. The passerby thought Barney was hit by a car because he had a swollen leg that was causing pain to the pooch.

Copake’s Dog Control Officer was called on the scene, and Barney was rushed to a veterinarian.

Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA reveals that after numerous x-rays, it was discovered that the Cane Corso was not hit by a car, but was rather suffering from an advanced stage of Osteosarcoma or bone cancer.

“Osteosarcoma is one of the most painful conditions to have and without proper pain management it can cause excruciating pain,” CGHS/SPCA wrote.

In a statement released by PETA, investigators believed that the poor pooch was abandoned by his owner(s) because they knew of Barney’s condition but failed to seek medical assistance.

“Rather than getting treatment for Barney’s agonizing condition, someone dumped this suffering, sick dog on the side of the road,” PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien said.

Sadly, because Barney was already in so much pain, a decision was made to humanely put him down.

Currently, there have been no leads or suspects identified yet. So, PETA is asking the public for help and is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information on the person(s) responsible of abandoning the pooch.

O’Brien said, “PETA asks anyone with information to come forward immediately, as there may be more suffering animals in this person’s custody.”

Ron Perez, president and investigator with the CGHS/SPCA calls Barney’s abandonment case as “one of the most shameful, cowardly acts of cruelty one can do to an animal”.

“In their most desperate time of need, to abandon an animal on the side of the road – in Barney’s case, knowing the painful condition that he was suffering from – is unconscionable and shows depraved indifference to this dog,” Perez said in a statement.

Anyone who has information on Barney’s owner is encouraged to contact the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 518-828-0601.