Reward offered after dog left tied to a pole, abandoned, and starved in newark

Reward offered after dog left tied to a pole, abandoned, and starved in Newark

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1 min read
August 31, 2021

Associated Humane Societies is offering a $1500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual that committed the heinous act of cruelty against a sweet, defenseless puppy in Newark, NJ on August 19th.

Animal Control for the city of Newark received the call at 3:51pm to go out to the Grafton Avenue apartment complex to retrieve a puppy that was abandoned.  The ACO spoke to a witness at the scene who stated that when she saw a car pull in, she assumed they were dumping trash but when they pulled away, there was a puppy tied to the fence.  Unfortunately, there was no opportunity to get the license plate of the vehicle.

LINK: If you wish to donate to help Petunia, click here.

When the puppy arrived at the AHS Newark facility, staff were horrified at the sight of this poor young female dog.  You can’t look at her and not wonder what transpired in her young life to arrive in the sad, neglected, starved state that she’s in.  Our veterinarian estimates her to be approximately five months old and sadly, she weighs just 10 pounds.  She was covered in urine and feces, as well as blood.  Examination revealed her to be extremely dehydrated, so fluids were immediately administered.  Puncture wounds were discovered under scars that were crusted over which are likely the result of bites from another animal, and her teeth are in poor condition for such a young dog.  Her overall body condition is very poor but despite this, she has a strong appetite and is grateful for all the help that she’s receiving. 

Reward offered after dog left tied to a pole, abandoned, and starved in newark

 She has been named Petunia and she is resting comfortably on many soft, clean blankets in one of our administrative offices.  Regardless of Petunia’s past trauma, she has the sweetest disposition. Petunia has been greating staff members with kisses and craves to be held. She is probably the happiest, safest, and most cared for that she’s ever been, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that she has every chance at living a long, full, happy life in a wonderful home once she has recovered from the terrible treatment that she endured.  If you have any information in this case, please contact our AHS Newark facility at 973-824-7080 or email:  newark@ahsppz.org.  Please consider making a donation towards Petunia’s care, and the many others like her that come through our doors in desperate need of help.  Thanks so much for your support.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

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