A 10-week-old puppy was found dead inside a weighted cage and submerged in a New Jersey pond, police say. A $3,500 is now being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.
A rescue officer with the non-profit The Last Resort found the puppy on April 30 in Greenwood Pond, New Jersey.
The rescue officer had noticed the cage at the edge of the pond with the puppy inside, according to a Facebook post. The cage had been weighed down with the crystal vase.
The group said in the post that the puppy seemed to be a 10-week-old female Golden Retriever.
“The puppy was dead and ice cold, soaked inside the crate, lakebed vegetation hanging on the crate, with a crystal vase (notice price tag) and wee wee pads stuck to the side of her head with a small amount of blood on them (sic),” the post read.
Posted by Greenwood Lake Animal Hospital on Wednesday, May 1, 2019
West Milford Police Chief Timothy Storbeck and Passaic county Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes told NJ.com that the incident is currently under investigation.
“At this time there are no suspects or leads,” the police said in a press release.
Puppy found dead in weighted cage submerged in N.J. pond. $1K reward offered. https://t.co/tINxpeUCJl pic.twitter.com/4sjVZk4ieK
— NJ.com (@njdotcom) May 1, 2019
A complete autopsy will be performed to determine how and when the puppy died.
“We want justice for this little girl,” the nonprofit wrote on Facebook, naming the puppy Jenny. “That is all we can do for her now.”
Posted by Greenwood Lake Animal Hospital on Wednesday, May 1, 2019
The Last Resort is offering a $3,500 reward for information “leading to a conviction of the person responsible.”
The reward money is made up from donations. “If no one comes forward we will apply these funds in her honor to our efforts in saving other puppies in need of rescue,” The Last Resort wrote on Facebook.
REWARD is now $4000For any information leading to the arrest of the person responsible. if you know something please…
Posted by The Last Resort Rescue on Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Reactions
People took to social media to comment on the incident.
“I am HEARTBROKEN for the innocent pup that had to endure this,” one person wrote on The Last Resort’s Facebook post.
Another wrote, “I would have taken this puppy in a minute—why god why do people do this??? Rest in peace dear one.”
“Omg I can’t even imagine someone doing this to this adorable puppy I would have taken her in for sure so sad,” another person wrote.
Anyone with information about is urged to contact West Milford Township Police Det. Eric Darnsteadt at 973-728-2801.
Tips can also be submitted to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office by calling 1-877-370-PCPO or emailing [email protected].
